Pacific

Leaders keen to make Pacific Plan work

15:16 pm on 6 May 2014

Leaders of Pacific Island Forum countries have agreed to reinvigorate their efforts towards regional cooperation and integration under the Pacific Plan.

After a meeting in the Cook Islands, the Forum chair, Christopher Loeak of the Marshall Islands, says discussions show that business as usual has not been delivering the benefits hoped for when they endorsed the Pacific Plan in 2005.

The meeting in Rarotonga has been reviewing the 2013 review of the Pacific Plan, led by Sir Mekere Morauta of Papua New Guinea.

The prime minister of the Cook Islands, Henry Puna, says the Forum leaders need strong political leadership and clear decisions if they are to make regional integration work.

The leaders are expected to make final decisions on how to rationalise the range of ministerial meetings at the summit in Palau in July.