Official Photo of Pacific Forum Leaders at their Retreat at Taumeasina Island Resort, 2017. Photo: Tipi Autagavaia
The 48th Pacific Islands Forum summit in Samoa has ended with all the leaders unanimously agreeing to reappoint Dame Meg Taylor as Secretary General for a second, three-year term.
The Forum's official communiqué reveals a united group of Pacific leaders keen to press ahead with issues concerning the Pacific region.
Leaders reaffirmed the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, seen as the platform for a renewed commitment to collective action to drive the region's economic policy agenda.
Forum leaders also recognised the value of dialogue processes with the associate member, observers, Forum dialogue partners, heads of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific, civil society and private sector to inform the leaders meeting
For the first time at a Forum meeting a civil society delegation presented their concerns directly to Pacific leaders in Samoa.
The leaders are also committed to fast tracking the development of policies to ban the use of single-use plastic bags, plastic and styrofoam packaging and called on Pacific Rim partners to join and commit to action on addressing marine pollution and marine debris.
Forum leaders also called for a united regional effort that establishes and secures international recognition of the permanent protection and integrity of the maritime zones and sovereignty, from the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise.
The leaders noted the leadership of Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Palau and Vanuatu toward integrated ocean management of their maritime and exclusive economic zones.
The 2018 Forum will be hosted by Nauru.