Pacific looks to the US for solidarity and inspiration to tackle some gravest challenges the world faces now - Bainimarama

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stressed that the Pacific looks to the US for solidarity and inspiration in tackling some of the gravest challenges the world faces now.

While addressing the Bicameral Bipartisan Members of Congress at Capitol Hill in Washington, Bainimarama, in his capacity as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, thanked the US for hosting the first-ever summit of Pacific Island leaders with President Joe Biden, adding this was an important step up in the right direction.

Speaking on the important issue of climate change, Bainimarama says there is no science-based disagreement that can be made against the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.

He says they are grateful for the priority President Biden has given to the fight against climate change, and they are frankly thrilled to have American leadership once again in this fight.

He adds they need the United States to lead — to lead politically and to lead by example.

The Prime Minister says as you carry forward your effort to build consensus or, lacking consensus, simply the effort to do what must be done by the majority, he wants America to know that they have a friend in the South Pacific.

Bainimarama says they use all the influence they can wield, and they will proudly work beside the US to save this earth.

The Prime Minister conveyed his sincere thanks to the representatives and senators who have helped to keep a focus on the Blue Pacific alive in both these houses.

He says some of the Pacific island countries are barely 30 years old and Fiji’s new democracy is only eight years old.

He adds that Fiji has a lot to learn from the US and their institutions, and he encourages far greater and more systematic interaction between parliaments in the Pacific and these two chambers.

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi thanked Bainimarama for his leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum family and stated that their visit to Capitol Hill will further strengthen solidarity with the Pacific in both houses.

Pelosi also assured Bainimarama US support for the Pacific cuts across both parties.

Bainimarama in his Twitter account highlighted, that today he says goodbye to President Biden and Fiji’s new friends on Capitol Hill and in the US private sector.

He says he returns to Suva with a new reassurance that America’s might and resources are with the people across the Pacific in the greatest battles we face.