PIFLM53, 26 August 2024, Nuku’alofa - Health and education, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and key regional initiatives like the Pacific Resilience Facility will be discussed by Forum Leaders as they meet for their 53rd session from 26-30 August in Tonga.
The Hon Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, Prime Minister of Tonga will assume the role of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair at this meeting, from Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon Mark Brown. Leaders will also hear from UNSG Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Tonga as part of his visit to the Pacific region. Climate priorities for the Pacific will also be flagged in a session with the incoming UNFCCC COP 29 President-Designate H.E Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources.
The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be the first for PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa. “The theme of ‘Transformative, Resilient Pasifiki - Build Better Now’ speaks to the heart of the challenges facing our members and is very relevant to the times we are in. It is a call for action to secure the future of our region and a chance to reassess our existing partnerships and explore new ones, as we work together for our Blue Pacific ,” he said.
Leaders will discuss and decide next steps based on recommendations from a range of Ministerial meetings in 2024. The agenda is focused on implementation and action, to deliver on the 2050 Strategy, and a ‘fit-for-purpose’ regional architecture.
Climate ambition and financing are priorities, with international support for the Pacific Resilience Facility critical. In addition, commitment to protecting Pacific people and statehood in the face of climate-change induced sea-level rise continues to be a priority.
Regional peace and security initiatives will be considered, as will building Forum members’ economies through collective solutions including sustainable fisheries development.
The week will also include meetings to progress the key priority areas of Smaller Island States, and the implementation of the Samoa Agreement.
PIFLM53 will amplify the work of Forum member countries and territories to deliver on the 2050 vision of a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives.
[ENDS]
Contact: Lisa Williams Lahari media@forumsec.org
