Pacific Island Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting 2016

I will represent Australia at the first annual Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Suva, Fiji, on 12 August. This follows a meeting of Pacific foreign ministers I hosted in Sydney in July 2015.

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries have a close and important relationship. We work together to enhance economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security in our region.

Increased vulnerability to natural disasters is an issue for all the countries of the Pacific, including Australia. We are helping our Pacific neighbours strengthen their ability to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters and we are also working together on global action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

We will also discuss how we can increase cooperation to combat illegal fishing in the region through aerial surveillance, delivered through Australia's Pacific Maritime Security Program.

I look forward to discussing the significant progress made by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and the Solomon Islands Government in advance of RAMSI's scheduled conclusion in July 2017.

Australia remains committed to working with Pacific Island countries to achieve our shared goal of a stronger, safer and more prosperous region.