The delegation is set to visit four countries
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a political delegation to tour four Pacific countries: Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau.
Peters pointed out that the visit was important because the Pacific is a major focus of New Zealand’s foreign policy.
“It is important that we get out into the region and spend time with all members of the Pacific family,” said Peters.
The delegation also includes the Chair of the Labour Pacific Caucus, Hon Jenny Salesa, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (FADTC), Tim van de Molen, and FADTC member Teanau Tuiono.
The deputy prime minister also shared that the country aimed to visit all 17 members of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2024. Following this upcoming visit to the four countries, the delegation will already have visited 14 countries.
“As one of its founding members, New Zealand is firmly committed to the Forum as our region’s pre-eminent political entity and principal platform for advancing the Pacific’s priorities and for tackling regional problems,” said Peters.
The visit to Fiji will coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. After this, Peters will lead the delegation to visit three countries across Micronesia.
The deputy prime minister asserted that the members of the Pacific Islands were important to New Zealand and that the visit gave the country an opportunity to converse with the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau regarding regional issues.
“New Zealand is committed to strengthening our Micronesian relationships, and this visit is a visible demonstration of that,” said Peters.
The delegation will head out of the country on 8 August and return on 16 August.
