WELLINGTON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio will attend the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu this week, Ardern announced on Monday.
"The government is lifting New Zealand's strategic ambition and investment in the Pacific, through our Pacific Reset, and the forum gives us the opportunity to progress collective action on significant issues that affect us all," the prime minister said.
"I will be listening to and discussing key Pacific issues frankly to encourage cooperation on shared regional challenges."
"With Tuvalu at the frontline of global climate change I look forward to progressing ways to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change so we have the strongest possible climate resilience across the Pacific," she added.
Minister Sio said New Zealand has strong ancestral and genealogical ties with Pacific Island countries, and an enduring commitment to the region to ensure its beauty and resources are protected for future generations.
"As a government with the highest number of ministers of Pacific heritage, we share a collective ambition to stand with Pacific Island countries to amplify their voices on climate change so the world can take their fight seriously," Sio said.
Founded in 1971, the Pacific Islands Forum is the region's premier political and economic policy organization. Tuvalu has set the theme for this year's forum as "Securing our Future in the Pacific."
