Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says our ocean area has strategic value in world affairs and the Pacific must navigate carefully through diplomatic maneuvering and must they be intent on acting in the best interests of their countries and people.
While speaking during the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit in Vanuatu, Rabuka says their first meeting since 2018 is occurring at a time when the region has assumed major international importance as the great powers of China and the US compete for Pacific influence.
He says they need to remind themselves that although they are small developing countries, they exercise sovereign authority over a very large part of the globe.
Rabuka says they must not lose sight of the truth that at this momentous stage in history, their unity as a region is of paramount importance.
The Prime Minister says acting together with common purpose and aims puts them in a better position to achieve their goals for Melanesia and Oceania as a whole.
Rabuka further says the threat of natural disasters will continue to be a persistent issue for the region and he is committed to working closely with other leaders in advocating for climate emergency financing and building a more resilient Melanesia.
He is also urging the leaders of MSG member states to continue to look for opportunities that strengthen their relations.
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