“India also urges the Pacific Island countries to forge a global partnership to harness technology, innovation and finance to put affordable, clean and renewable energy within the reach of our countries”, she said.
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He said even though India is separated from the Pacific Island Countries by oceans and continents, India is proud to have a long tradition of close friendship with them.
He said the Indian government attaches great importance to its relations with their friends among the Pacific island countries. Some of the countries have oil and gas reserves.
Later, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj welcomed the 14 leaders who arrived in India for the summit.
“India has, over the years, made considerable technological advances in the field of IT, health, solar energy, disaster mitigation and management, agriculture particularly coconut and coir, oil and natural gas exploration”, he said addressing the Ceremonial reception for FIPIC Summit.
The President said that, towards this end, India’s annual grant-in-aid to each Pacific Island Country had been enhanced from $125,000 to $ 200,000 a year ago.
She thanked the Pacific family for their support for India’s quest to become a permanent member in an expanded UN Security Council.
India believes economic linkages and co-operation with Pacific Island countries are a key factor in it?s extended?Act East?
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. We believe that it is vital for us to work together to push for these long awaited reforms in the forthcoming session of the UNGA”, he said.
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A mechanism for sharing data collected by satellites for monitoring climate change, disaster risk reduction and resource management may be discussed in the summit in Jaipur. The island countries taking part in FIPIC Summit include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia and Marshall Islands.
