Wednesday, December 11, 2024

PM to attend Pacific Leaders lunch

Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, has confirmed he will travel to Port Moresby on Sunday to meet with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; PNG Prime Minister, James Marape and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown.

Prime Minister Hipkins has also been invited to and will attend the India – Pacific Leaders lunch being hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

“I’m very much looking forward to meeting with Prime Ministers Modi, Marape and Brown and with other regional leaders attending these significant Pacific gatherings,” Mr Hipkins said.

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will also attend on behalf of President Joe Biden.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (file image).

“While this visit to Port Moresby will be relatively short, it is significant. It includes several opportunities to talk with Pacific leaders, which is important given that I was unable to attend the Pacific Islands Forum earlier this year because of Cyclone Gabrielle,” PM Hipkins said.

“I am also pleased Secretary of State Blinken will be present. Regional unity is critical to the resilience of the Pacific. It’s excellent to see the United States engaging constructively with the Pacific Islands Forum members around issues of importance to our region, especially climate change.

“This visit is the first opportunity I will have to meet many of my Pacific counterparts in person, and I thank Prime Minister Marape for hosting us,” he said.

The Prime Minister will return to New Zealand on Tuesday 23 May.

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