Pacific Islands Forum

"I thought being Prime Minister of the Cook Islands for 10 years was the ultimate. But this is more demanding, and in many ways, more pleasurable and more rewarding," Henry Puna said.

"I'm enjoying this job so much. It'd be nice to continue in the role. It's up to how I can perform over the next year," Puna said.

While Puna is optimistic that he will lead the regional body for another term, the decision rests on the regional leaders.

"I'm employed by them, and I'm answerable to them. So whatever the leaders decide, that's what will happen," he said.

Japan is due to start dumping one million tonnes of nuclear waste from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean in only a few months.

According to Japan's government, the wastewater is to be treated by an Advanced Liquid Processing System, which will remove nuclides from the water.

It says the water to be discharged into the ocean is not contaminated.

Last year, the Pacific Islands Forum demanded Japan share pivotal information about the plan.

The '2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent' was endorsed by regional heads of governments on 14 July, as the curtains fell on the 51st Forum Leaders' Meeting in Suva.

"As Pacific Leaders, our vision is for a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives," the 2050 strategy's leaders' vision states.

Forum chairman and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the new regional blueprint "is about who we are".

Present at the event, Samsung’s Corporate President and Head Corporate Management- Hark Kyu Park explained the advantages of Busan as the host city for 2030 World Expo, to the major government officials from the Pacific Islands countries.

Kyu Park met Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on 11 July and Samoa's Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa on 12 July.

He explained Samsung's innovation technology cases and global social contribution activities.

Jacinda Ardern is attending the forum alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta.

The funding announced for Pacific crop seeds this afternoon allowed the preservation of the region's biodiversity, "which is incredibly important to all of us", Ardern said.

She said it was important for the region to move away as much as possible from the reliance on fossil fuels.

Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni issued a statement on Tuesday morning praising Mr Abe as a rare leader who took personal interest in strengthening relations between the countries.

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama called Mr Abe a true friend to Fiji and a model for every leader.

Papua New Guinea's caretaker Prime Minister James Marape credited him for initiating numerous development projects in PNG.

And New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern described Mr Abe as a kind man who helped usher through many complex negotiations.

Mr. Puna said this Sunday while officially opening the media masterclass of the 51st PIF Leaders Meeting in Suva, Fiji.
This PIF Meeting will be the first face-to-face meeting in three years.
“What three years it has been with pandemic disruption and recovery alongside the ongoing challenges of the climate crisis, and the ongoing geostrategic and geopolitical priorities and interests in our region as well,” he said.
Mr. Puna said the Pacific media, in the last 12 months, had reported 50 years of the Pacific regional family and the challenges that it had faced.

Speaking to Journalists yesterday (Sunday) Henry Puna says the Pacific Islands 2050 Strategy has been tailored towards addressing challenges and opportunities for Pacific Islands States in the next 50 years.

He says Pacific leaders who are currently in Suva Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting will be discussing the Strategy and put the strategy forward for adoption at the end of the meeting.

Prime ministers from Australia and Papua New Guinea are expected to fly into Suva tonight, however the empty seats with Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru name tags will not be filled.

This morning's meeting for leaders, observers and associate members was opened by Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama, who acknowledged the 'breakdown in communication' with the Micronesian bloc.

He called on the leaders to remember the necessity of re-establishing "our family bonds".

It was revealed at the weekend that the Kiribati president Taneti Maamau was not attending the gathering, and his nation had formally withdrawn from the Forum.

Nauru's Lionel Aingimea was also understood to not be attending, ostensibly because of the soaring levels of Covid-19 in his country.

Now, Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown has also pulled out, and said he wants to focus on the election, which is to be held in three weeks.