BY LORETTA B MANELE
Countries from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) have reinforced their commitment to regional cooperation.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele pointed this out when he spoke about his recent trip to Suva, Fiji to the 23rd MSG Leaders’ Meeting.
Addressing local media representatives in a recent press conference, he said the theme of the meeting was “A Peaceful and Prosperous Melanesia.”
“We reinforced our commitment to regional cooperation on trade, labour mobility, climate action and security,” he said.
Manele expressed that at the meeting, Solomon Islands reaffirmed strong support for the MSG Secretariat and he welcomed Fiji’s generous allocation of land for our High Commission in Suva.
He added that this further strengthens our diplomatic presence and regional ties in line with the (Government for National Unity and Transformation) GNUT’s emphasis on unity and stability.
Moreover, Manele said prior to the meeting, there was the MSG Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that was held on June 20.
He stated that in this meeting, leaders agreed to review the MSG institutional framework and governance to ensure relevance to the changing global context.
“The MSG agreed to consider a dialogue partner mechanism inspired by ASEAN, (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which would enable strategic engagement with external countries and organisations.
“Such a mechanism could strengthen diplomatic ties, foster regional cooperation and enhance MSG’s influence and resource mobilisation through structured partnerships and to finalise the MSG security strategy in October during Indonesia’s chairmanship,” he said.
Manele clarified that this chairmanship is of a police-related meeting and not of the MSG.
He said they also reaffirmed MSG’s support for New Caledonia’s decolonisation through multilateral processes and agreed to explore a Melanesia business travel card scheme with a technical working group to be established.
Manele noted that leaders at the meeting also endorsed the 2025 Melanesian Prime Minister’s Cup to be held in Port Moresby and the 2026 Melanesian Cultural Festival to be hosted by Fiji.
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