SG Waqa backs Forum Chair, calls for unity to drive Pacific agenda

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General Baron Waqa has called for unwavering unity and collective action as the region confronts significant climate, economic, and security challenges. Speaking at the welcome ceremony for the new Forum Chair, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, Waqa underscored the importance of steady leadership and shared purpose.

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It is both my honour and privilege, as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to welcome the Forum Chair, Matthew Wale, and Lord Fakafanua to your Secretariat, your regional home here in the heart of Fiji, Suva.

"The role of the Forum Chair is one of great responsibility and trust. It is a role that calls for steady leadership, wisdom, and unity, to guide our collective priorities, to uphold what binds us together as Pacific peoples, and to help steer our region through a time of both challenge and opportunity," Waqa stated. He welcomed Prime Minister Wale and Tonga’s Lord Fakafanua to the PIF Secretariat in Suva, describing the ceremony as symbolic of connection and a reaffirmation of commitment to the Forum as the region's preeminent political grouping.

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Today’s (Thursday)ceremony is both symbolic and significant. It marks not only one of transition but also one of connection, a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to the Pacific Islands Forum as the preeminent political grouping for our Blue Pacific Continent.

Waqa highlighted that the Pacific continues to navigate a dynamic landscape shaped by climate change, evolving economic realities, and security issues. He stressed that the region's greatest strengths lie in its sense of togetherness and the spirit of Talanoa, which guides the Forum as a space for dialogue and collective action. "The Forum remains our primary platform, a place where we come together as one, one Blue Pacific, to advance our collective priorities, and to amplify the voice of our region on the global stage," he added.

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The role of the Forum Chair is one of great responsibility and trust. It is a role that calls for steady leadership, wisdom, and unity, to guide our collective priorities, to uphold what binds us together as Pacific peoples, and to help steer our region through a time of both challenge and opportunity.

The PIF Secretariat stands ready to support the Chair and member states in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Waqa expressed confidence that leadership in the region is bolstered by unity, humility, and service, emphasizing the Secretariat's commitment to walking alongside the Chair and members to advance their shared agenda.

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Your region continues to navigate a dynamic and changing landscape, one shaped by climate change, evolving economic realities, security considerations, and the aspirations of our people for a better and more inclusive future.