New Caledonia and Fiji sign MOU
Photo: Sitiveni Rabuka media association.
Fiji and New Caledonia have signed a memorandum of understanding.
New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou met with Fiji's prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka during the Forum leaders' retreat in Fiji.
The accord covered tourism, the environment, sustainability, trade, investment, agriculture and the fishing sector.
Rabuka said that through regional solidarity, together we will be able to build a stronger future for our Pacific family.
He said Pacific Island Forum member states must continue to look for opportunities to strengthen relations through frequent face-to-face interactions, as is the Pacific Way.
Australia/Pacific
Australia is to fund health-care programmes across the Indo-Pacific under a $US422 million boost.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who has been in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' retreat, announced the new five-year commitment for countries in the Pacific and South-East Asia.
AAP reports the bulk of the programme will support disease prevention and control, from vaccine research and development, to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and cancer, over the next five years.
Niue's Premier visits NZ
Niue's Premier Dalton Tagelagi met with the New Zealand prime minister in Wellington on Monday.
Chris Hipkins said the pair touched on many issues, including climate change and economic development.
Guam
Guam has become the second US territory to join the US Climate Alliance.
The Guam Daily Post reports governor Lou Leon Guerrero said she believes islands like Guam are uniquely positioned to talk about climate impacts.
Her reasons include the island's susceptibility to hotter weather and risks to freshwater supplies.
Last month, the governor participated in the Micronesian Presidents' Summit and Micronesian Islands Forum, where they discussed regional security; infrastructure; and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Samoa
A new multi-million-dollar project will help Samoa's transport systems move away from fossil fuels.
The project - part of a Japanese-funded regional climate programme - is looking at increasing the use of electric vehicles and exploring propulsion systems that use cleaner energy.
The $US36.8 million regional projects, with an allocation of $US15.5 million for Samoa, are scheduled for completion in March 2025.
According to Samoa's latest National Greenhouse Gas Inventory in 2020, the road transport sector, largely dependent on fossil fuels, is the country's largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
Vanuatu
The United States is looking to increase its presence in Vanuatu.
The Daily Post reports the interest was confirmed by the US Embassy in Papua New Guinea.
It said there are rumours a local consultant was scouting out potential properties for an embassy.
It follows the US ramping up its presence in the Pacific and officially opening an embassy in the Solomon Islands earlier this month.