Prime Minister Modi had played an instrumental role in the creation of the India-Pacific Islands summit format as a means for India to advance its interests in the region and to work with Pacific Island nations on issues including trade, climate change, diplomacy, and space cooperation.
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Speaking on the occasion, the President 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.
President Pranab Mukherjee today said India attached great importance to its relations with Pacific Island countries and believed that its economic linkages and cooperation with them were a key factor in its extended “Act East” policy. According to MEA sources, of these two countries (that are yet to back India’s claim) one supports the G4 resolution, which indirectly supports the Indian position, while the other is yet to announce its stand.
Mukherjee said: “We particularly appreciate the way that your nations have made the Indian diaspora feel comfortable and secure in distant lands”. “India is committed to partner with you in your efforts to achieve the developmental goals of your respective nations”, he said. In an address at a reception for FIPIC member-countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India stands ready to share its expertise and technology with the island nations for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
“I am very optimistic about FIPIC Summit”.
Fourteen South Pacific island countries, Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are participating in the summit to start on Friday.
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The delegates are also scheduled to visit Amber fort and City palace before the summit. The Summit will be held at Jaipur’s Rambagh Hotel.
