History created as President Biden becomes the first US President to address the Pacific Islands Forum hosted by Fiji

US President Joe Biden has told the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum that there is no more immediate threat to all of us than COVID-19.

At the invitation of the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, President Biden has addressed the meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum this morning and pledged America’s support to the Pacific in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and raising global ambition to tackle the climate crisis.

He says this pandemic has taken a heavy toll and the lives lost can never ever be replaced.

President Biden also says the economic impacts are going to require all of us to work together to drive an inclusive and sustained recovery. He thanked Bainimarama for the invitation and for Fiji’s leadership of the Forum through a time of significant challenge to the region and to the world.

President Biden also says the Pacific Island nations know better than anyone that averting the worst effects of climate change is going to save lives.

He says the United States is committed to dramatically reducing it’s emissions by 2030 and building resilience in vulnerable communities globally.

Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked President Biden for making history as the first US President to join them at the Forum, and for bringing America forcefully back to the right side of climate history.

Bainimarama says Fiji and the USA's net-zero commitments by 2050 must become the entire world's - zero excuses.

He says together as a united Pacific we look to securing a historic outcome in Glasgow at COP26 which brings the 1.5 degree Celsius target within reach.