Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, will visit Tonga on August 28-29, 2024, to attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting with Dialogue Partners. The gathering, part of the 53rd PIF and related meetings, underscores India’s commitment to enhancing its partnership with Pacific nations, according to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs.
During his visit, Margherita is slated to engage in high-level bilateral discussions with Tongan leadership. This endeavor aims to reinforce the strong bilateral ties between India and Tonga, fostering progress and prosperity for both nations.
The PIF is the premier intergovernmental organization in the Pacific Region, comprising 18 member states, including Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Tonga. India has been a Dialogue Partner of the Forum since 2002, reflecting its long-standing engagement with the Pacific region.
This visit follows the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2023 in Papua New Guinea. The MoS’s attendance at the PIF Leaders’ Meeting will provide an opportunity to interact with leaders and decision-makers from all 14 FIPIC countries and other dialogue partners.
The MoS’s participation in the upcoming PIF Leaders’ Meeting is historically significant, marking India’s first-ever ministerial-level representation at these forums. This milestone visit highlights India’s strategic interest in deepening its ties with the Pacific region, aligning with broader goals of regional cooperation and sustainable development.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-mp-pabitra-margherita-to-attend-pacific-islands-forum-leaders-meet-in-tonga-1079078-2024-08-25?utm_source=rssfeed
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