Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni is leading Tonga’s delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit at the White House on September 25.
President Joe Biden will host this second U.S.-Pacific Island Forum summit taking place on September 25-26, a meeting seen as a high-profile counter-move on China’s increasing presence in the region.
The White House said in a Statement the Summit will reaffirm the United States commitment to shared regional priorities and cooperation on key issues such as climate change, economic growth, sustainable development, health and maritime security.
“The meeting with the US President is an opportunity for us to share our concerns,” Prime Minister Sovaleni said during a Press Conference prior to his departure for the UN General Assembly.
In a high-level meeting in New York this week ahead of the Summit, Prime Minister Sovaleni said that Tonga’s top priorities are Climate Change and Oceans. He was particularly interested in seeking new investors and existing partners who will invest in the Pacific region to deliver with new and innovative methods on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Prime Minister would like to see more traction on Climate Change actions.
“The urgency for change is evident; if the goal is to achieve systems-level impact, the current way of addressing development or climate problems will fail,” Sovaleni said at the High-Level Leaders Meeting to Unlock Blue Pacific Prosperity.
Prime Minister Sovaleni is expected to discuss with his US counterparts on how the US can support the regional 2050 Strategy on key topics for Tonga such as better access to climate finance through the setup of a regional fund for the Pacific to support climate change activities in the island nations, and improved oceans security and management.
Building on the first U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit held last September, where the US announced its plans for over US$800 million in assistance to island states over 10 years, President Biden is expected to talk on how the U.S. will deliver on its promise to strengthen their partnership and learn how to increase their cooperation with the island states.
PM Sovaleni is accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, Members of Parliament, Lord Tu’ilakepa and Johnny Taione, and Tonga’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, HE Va’inga Tone.
Before the opening of the UN General Assembly, PM Sovaleni held a bilateral meeting with the UN Secretary General to discuss Climate Change, Oceans, COP28, SIDS Conference and SDG Summit and Financing for development. The PM also invited HE Antonio Guerres to the 2024 PIF leaders meeting to be hosted by Tonga in which he will be Chairperson.
During US Secretary Blinken’s recent visit to Tonga, the U.S opened an embassy in Tonga but with limited staffing and no ambassador yet.
