Foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to New Zealand and the Solomon Islands this week to discuss climate change and regional security in what will be her third visit to the Pacific since she was sworn in last month.
Key points:
- Senator Wong will meet with her Wellington counterpart Nanaia Mahuta on Thursday
- Will visit Honiara on Friday to meet with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogovare
- Regional security, climate change and job mobility are expected to be discussed
Senator Wong will fly to Wellington on Wednesday evening and is expected to meet with NZ Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Thursday.
“New Zealand is an indispensable partner in our ambitions for a stronger Pacific family,” Senator Wong said in a statement.
“As part of our discussions, we will look at ways to work together to make the most of the new energy and resources that the Australian government is bringing to the Pacific.”
Four days after being sworn in as foreign minister, Penny Wong landed in Fiji.
“There are new opportunities for collaboration with New Zealand in support of regional security and climate change.
This was echoed by Ms Mahuta in a statement issued before Senator Wong’s visit.
“At the regional level, the number one security issue for the Pacific is the impact of climate change,” Mahuta said.
“I look forward to speaking with the new Secretary of State in more detail on Australia’s climate change agenda and other ways to help Pacific Island nations in mitigation and adaptation.”
The importance of indigenous prospects in foreign policy, the Indo-Pacific economic framework and the war in Ukraine will also be on the agenda.
“I also look forward to building on New Zealand’s experiences as Australia develops a First Nations foreign policy,” said Senator Wong.
Mahuta says the role of the indigenous perspective in foreign policy will be on the agenda. (Reuters: Fabrice Coffrini)
Senator Wong will travel to the Solomon Islands on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and several cabinet ministers amid concerns over the regional impact of a security agreement between the Pacific island nation and China.
Australia said it was committed to deepening cooperation with the Solomon Islands on shared challenges, including climate change, and that Senator Wong would meet with Sogavare, according to the statement.
“I look forward to discussing ways in which we can continue to move forward in pandemic recovery, economic development and job mobility priorities, and address our shared security interests,” he said.
The Solomon Islands security pact, as well as a proposal by China for a comprehensive security and trade agreement with 10 Pacific Island nations, will be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting next month. coming to Suva, have said several island nations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sogavare in Honiara last month as part of a tour of eight countries in the Pacific, agreeing to deepen cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands on fishing, mining, infrastructure and trade.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele. (AP)
Wang said the security pact with the Solomon Islands would improve the police and protect Chinese citizens and institutions there.
“China supports the Pacific Islands countries to strengthen security cooperation and work together to address regional security challenges,” he said during the visit.
Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States have said they are concerned that Beijing may establish a military presence in the Pacific, although Sogavare has denied that the pact would allow for a military base.
Fiji said at a security conference in Singapore over the weekend that climate change was the most pressing security concern for the Pacific islands.
Reuters / ABC
Posted 1 hour 1 hour ago Wed 15 June 2022 at 04:27, updated 7 m ago 7 minutes ago DM 15 June 2022 at 05:32