Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

President Urusemal attends France-Oceania Summit

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): June 30, 2006 – French President Chirac invited leaders of the Pacific Island Forum countries to Paris for the Second France-Oceania Summit on June 26th to discuss France’s role in the development of the Pacific region.

Through discussions of the various pressing regional issues and the issues of common interest to strengthen France-Pacific cooperation, a new dynamic to the relations between France and the Pacific region was introduced, by way of a Declaration.

The Second France-Oceania Summit Declaration agreed that the Parties would pursue and expand their cooperation to enhance stability in the Pacific region. It further agreed to support Small Island Developing States for economic growth, sustainable development, management of resources, and regional security.

In line with objective of the Pacific Plan, the Declaration stressed the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation on three main issues:

  1. Sustainable economic development;

  2. Environment and biodiversity protection and conservation, and

  3. Political stability of the Pacific region.

Along with the FSM, the other Forum Island nations represented at the Paris Summit include: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The French Territories of the Pacific were also in attendance: New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna along with the Secretariats of the:

  • Pacific Islands Forum,

  • Pacific Community, and

  • Pacific Regional Environment Program.

The 1st France-Oceania summit was held in 2003 in French Polynesia.