Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated, “This week, I will travel to New Caledonia and Tuvalu for the first time as Foreign Minister to listen first-hand to their priorities and build on our close relationships.”
The Albanian government has demonstrated its steadfast dedication to collaborating with the Pacific community to advance Pacific objectives, including combating climate change and recovering from COVID-19.
As the foreign minister, I will be making my eleventh trip to the Pacific, and with it, the government will have visited all 17 of the other Pacific Islands Forum members.
Long-standing relationships between Australia and New Caledonia include cultural exchanges, business partnerships, environmental preservation efforts, and close defence collaboration with the local French government.
It is an honour to the Congress of New Caledonia about Australia’s regional strategy and the importance of New Caledonia’s regional engagement since it joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a full member in 2016.
I’ll meet with Tuvalu’s acting prime minister, Ampelosa Tehulu, and his cabinet members there to talk about Australia’s continued cooperation with Tuvalu and its development assistance for the country’s social, economic, and security concerns.
Tuvalu is one of the countries most affected by climate change, so I’ll reiterate Australia’s commitment to taking action on the issue, including our proposal to host COP31 in 2026 alongside other Pacific nations.
Supporting a region that is tranquil, affluent, and resilient depends heavily on the Pacific Islands Forum being strong and united.
