Pacific development

In an open letter to the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the opposition leader Bill Shorten, the group, which includes doctors, nurses and teachers based in Solomon Islands, said Australia's reputation in the region had been damaged.

"The Australian government's treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island is undermining our work and damaging Australia's reputation.

The 22nd Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) concluded on May 2 with the signing of the communiqué outlining common issues that member nations need to address as a region.

The leaders also agreed to hold the 23rd MIF in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Leaders also urged the activation of the MIF Secretariat which will focus its efforts on providing secretariat services to the MIF.

The secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, is leading a delegation to Beijing, Guangzhou and Hainan Province, with a focus on partnerships for sustainable development.

She said China was a valued partner of the Pacific region and the Forum was looking forward to a deeper and more dynamic relationship.

Dame Meg said increasingly China was taking a leadership role in addressing climate change.

She said the agency hoped it continues this role as the world implements the bold initiatives of the Paris Agreement.

Photo: AFP Dame Meg Taylor