PINA

Niue's Premier Dalton Tagelagi spoke with State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi as part of a meeting of Ministers of Foreign affairs from across the Pacific region. Premier of Niue, Tagelagi said in his presentation to Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the people of Niue have enjoyed a close friendship with the Peoples Republic of China since...

Samoa will move to Alert Level One as of midnight Tuesday 31 May following signs that the Covid-19 virus appears to have peaked in early May and there is now a downward trending of new infections. Announcing the changes, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa said the campaign drive through the Ministry of Health, in close collaboration with the Disaster Advisory...

By Aileen Torres-Bennett and Nick Perry  China fell short Monday on a bold plan to have 10 Pacific nations endorse a sweeping new agreement covering everything from security to fisheries as some in the region expressed deep concerns. But there have been plenty of smaller wins for China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi as he continues an island-hopping tour of the...

International sevens action will return to Hamilton this summer after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. New Zealand Rugby announced the return of New Zealand's biggest sporting party, where the Black Ferns Sevens and All Blacks Sevens will defend their respective titles, at FMG Stadium Waikato on 21-22 January 2023. The resurrected Hamilton event, which returns to the World...

Former All Blacks and Wallabies stars Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa headline the newly-named Tonga squad to compete in July’s Pacific Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier. All three players were included in Toutai Kefu’s 31-man ‘Ikale Tahi squad to face Fiji, Samoa and Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup, which precedes a World Cup playoff match...

China’s foreign minister will meet with his Pacific counterparts in a crucial meeting on Monday during which China is expected to encourage Pacific countries to sign up to a sweeping regional economic and security deal. The meeting comes midway through foreign minister Wang Yi’s marathon tour of the Pacific, visiting eight countries in 10 days, in a move that security...

The President of the Pacific island nation of Palau has recalled World War Two in a warning other regional leaders that wide-ranging trade and security pacts with China could have harmful consequences. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on an eight-country Pacific tour involving discussions with Pacific leaders about signing up to a regional agreement on economy, security and policing. It...

China's growing influence in the Pacific is a “scary development” for the region, according to the former prime minister and current opposition leader of Pacific island nation Tuvalu. In an interview with SBS News, Enele Sopoaga said a leaked document outlining China’s intention to form a pact with Pacific island nationsMcomes at an unstable time for the region. “The decision to...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has welcomed China’s climate change commitments. He made the statement when he met with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Suva. In a statement, SG Puna said China is a long standing and important Forum Dialogue Partner, and development partner, to our Blue Pacific region. “Recognising this, we are keen to build...

Vanuatu has become the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to declare it is facing a climate emergency. In a Twitter post, the leader of the opposition Ralph Regenvanu announced parliament passed a 17-point resolution declaring a climate emergency last Friday. Regenvanu said under Point 1 of the resolution, “The Parliament declares that a climate emergency exists that is now existentially...