Singapore reaffirms its commitment to Pacific nations at the PIF Leaders Meeting, focusing on climate resilience, capacity-building, and multilateral collaboration.
Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs, participated in the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting held in Tonga from August 28 to 30, 2024. This visit marks Singapore’s second attendance as a Dialogue Partner since its admission to the forum in January 2022. During the session with Dialogue Partners on August 28, Minister Maliki underscored Singapore’s solidarity with Pacific nations, emphasizing shared challenges such as climate change and the importance of the “Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing” (SPARKS) technical assistance package introduced at the previous PIF meeting.
Minister Maliki engaged with several Pacific leaders, including Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa, and leaders from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu. Discussions centered on the Pacific’s priorities and potential areas for Singaporean collaboration on both bilateral and multilateral levels. Minister Maliki also highlighted Singapore’s support for the Pacific’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, particularly in addressing climate change, building resilient economies, and amplifying collective voices in international forums.
In his remarks, Minister Maliki praised Tonga for its chairmanship of the PIF and reiterated Singapore’s commitment to supporting Pacific nations through initiatives like the SPARKS programme. He detailed Singapore’s efforts in climate resilience, including plans for coastal protection projects and participation in global climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement. Additionally, he highlighted Singapore’s ongoing support for Pacific health and education systems through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, offering priority access to its courses for PIF members.
Minister Maliki’s visit also included updates on the “SIDS of Change” technical assistance package and Singapore’s dedication to international agreements like the BBNJ Agreement under UNCLOS. His address reaffirmed Singapore’s role as a steadfast partner in the Pacific’s development and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to address shared challenges and achieve meaningful progress.
Source: MFA
