The newly appointed Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivered her first speech in office, with a keynote address at the Pacific Islands Forum.
Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna noted that this was Wong’s first bilateral visit just four days after work.
“Your visit to Fiji, in fact, your first bilateral visit, represents a very strong change in Australia’s regional perspective,” Puna said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks in Fiji. (new)
He said the forum welcomed the promises of the Labor government to take action against climate change and to adopt the Uluru Declaration from the heart.
Wong said the “new Australian government” indicated a “new Australia” that would work cooperatively and in partnership with Pacific nations, especially on climate change.
“I know the imperative we all share is to take serious action to reduce emissions and transform our economies,” he said.
“Nothing is more central to the security and economies of the Pacific.”
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele and Chinese Minister Wang Yi. China begins diplomatic push towards the Pacific. (AP)
He once again lashed out at previous coalition governments, saying Australia had “neglected its responsibility”.
“But whether it is manifested in rising sea levels, or in disastrous forest fires and catastrophic floods, climate change is happening to the entire Pacific family,” he said.
Wong also took the opportunity to outline Australia’s advantages as a strategic partner in the Pacific, although China is embarking on a diplomatic bombardment of the region.
“We understand that the safety of any member of the Pacific family depends on the safety of everyone, and we have a collective responsibility as we face these challenges to ensure the interest of our region today and in the future,” he said. to say.
Pacific island nations have welcomed Australia’s commitment to climate change. (Getty)
“And as Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, I am committed to working with you and listening to you.
“We will continue to be a critical development partner for the Pacific family for years to come.
“And Australia will be a partner that does not come with ties.
“Nor to impose unsustainable financial burdens. We are a partner that will not erode the priorities of the Pacific or the institutions of the Pacific.”
Wong said the government will provide more support and more job opportunities for people in the Pacific islands.
In the next Q&A session, Wong was forced to deal directly with the “China issue”, and Fiji’s media asked how Australia would work to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific and how it could “discourage”. “Pacific nations to join Beijing. .
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The Foreign Minister worked carefully to give a moderate tone, but did not give much specific information.
“I don’t approach the discussion about China and China’s activities looking at the Pacific as if it were abstract from Australia,” he said.
“I look at this and think about what we need to do to work together, to ensure that regional security is promoted and supported by the region.”
“Ultimately, the nations of the Pacific islands will take their choices on which agreements, which associations are involved.
“What we would ask, like Australia, is to consider where a nation could be in three, five or ten years.”
On China’s criticism of Australia’s climate change policy, Wong said it was true that Australia exported “a lot” of coal to China.
But he said the global economy was undergoing a transition to clean energy, and so was Australia.
“I hope you can ask as many questions to the (Chinese) foreign minister as you ask me,” he said, causing a roar of laughter.