By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV, Port Moresby
The United States of America will be represented by a high level delegation at the 46th Pacific Islands Forum hosted by Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, next week.
The US contingent will be led by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Heather Higginbottom, and the state department contingent will include senior officials from the United States Pacific Command, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The US Government aims to show its ongoing commitment to the Pacific, and to demonstrate its support for issues significant to the region such as women’s empowerment, climate change, health, sustainable development and renewable energy, among others.
New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, will also be in attendance at the forum.
According to Radio New Zealand, Key has stated that as a Pacific nation, New Zealand values its neighbours and is committed to working with other Pacific nations to build a prosperous region.
The 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be staged from September 7-11.
