53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting kicks off in Tonga

The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting kicked off on August 26 in Nuku'alofa, capital of Tonga, bringing together leaders from 18 member states to discuss collective response to regional issues during the five-day gathering, Report informs referring to Bastille Post Global.

Tonga Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni chairs the annual event this year. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the 18 member states in his opening address for their efforts to protect the seas and combat climate change.

The PIF is guided by a long-term 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a framework focused on Pacific communities that aims to ensure the health and well-being of their peoples.

Tonga has laid out a vision for the 53rd PIF event, insisting that the Pacific must move beyond policy deliberation to implementation in order to "achieve transformation by building better now."

Founded in 1971, the PIF is the region's premier political and economic policy organization. Its leaders meet annually to develop collective responses to regional issues and deliver their vision for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity.