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Tonga’s Prime Minister Huakawameliku (left) and Baron Waka.
photo: Provided by/PIF
The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting (PIFLM53) was top of the agenda for this week’s meeting between Tongan Prime Minister Huakawameliku and Forum Secretary-General Barun Waqa.
Tonga will host the PIFLM53 conference in August, with the theme “Transformative, Resilient Pacific Islanders”.
This was Waqa’s first official visit to Saudi Arabia and he also shared his key priorities for regionalism with the incoming Forum president.
“Tonga has entered the countdown phase for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting,” Waqa said.
“We are pleased to be part of these preparations and to support the new Forum Chair and host, the Kingdom of Tonga, in this historic moment.”
“The theme of ‘Transformative, Resilient Pacific Islanders’, and the call to ‘Build Back Better Now’, resonates with all of our Pacific Islander leaders. Now is the time to deliver on that promise, with our people and our future in mind.”
Waqa also met with Tonga’s Crown Prince Tuputoa Ulukalala and visited the Tongan Parliament, the Pacific Community (SPC) in Nuku’alofa and the office of the Minister of Climate.
“I am very happy to receive updates from the prime minister, Crown Prince Ulukala and everyone I have met so far,” he said.
According to the forum secretariat, Waqa thanked Huacahuameliku for the opportunity to meet and will continue to attend other important meetings before leaving on Friday morning.
The statement said the talks were marked by progress on regional priorities and specific plans involving Tonga.
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