Pacific island leaders met South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, their third summit in a week with a large economy as the region seeks stronger action on climate change.
The Pacific islands span 40 million square kilometers of ocean between the United States and Asia, and Western allies have moved to boost their engagement amid concerns over China's security ambitions for the strategic waters and economic leverage among the small island states.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta, said she was eager for the chance to discuss climate change, economic recovery from Covid-19, development cooperation, oceans and fisheries, and sea-level rise.
"Aotearoa New Zealand is joining with other Pacific Island Forum Leaders attending the Summit so that our voice can be heard, as we speak as one - as Pacific whānau - on our shared Pacific priorities."
In Seoul, Mahuta met with her counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin, and delivered a national statement on 'Preserving maritime zones in the face of climate change-related sea-level rise'.
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