SOLOMON Islands was among other Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that participated at the 4th Korea-PICs Senior Officials Meeting in Busan, Korea, from the 24th to the 27th of October, 2016.
The Solomon Islands delegation was led by William Soaki, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs & External Trade, Joseph Atkin-Tada, Assistant Secretary of the Asia, Africa & Middle East Branch and Rosalie Masu, Deputy Director of Fisheries & Marine Resources.
The meeting was a component of Korea’s engagement with the PICs as a Post-Forum dialogue partner that discussed issues of mutual interest between the Republic of Korea and the Pacific Island countries.
The meeting focused on three key areas of cooperation which include Climate Change Cooperation, Development Cooperation and Maritime and Fisheries Cooperation.
The meeting noted climate change as a significant risk to the survival and sovereignty of Pacific Islands countries posing threat on various sectors of the Pacific Islands economy.
Officials welcomed the decision that led to the ratification of the Paris Agreement during the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris last year and the early ratification of the Agreement by ROK and the call to further cooperate in the lead up to COP 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco in December this year.
PICs Officials also appreciated the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol calling on ROK to reduce its temperature increase by 1.5 degree Celsius.
They also call on ROK to further simplify the procedures for the disbursement of funds from the Green Climate Fund noting in particular the 15th GCF Board meeting on the issue in Apia next month.
The next meeting to convene between Korea and the Pacific island countries will be held during the 3rd Korea-PICs Foreign Ministers Meeting later in October, 2017.
