APIA, Samoa - An ambitious regional development plan for the South Pacific moved a small but firm step forward at a just-concluded regional summit of small island nations.
The Pacific Plan, a new vision for closer regional co-operation and integration, was on top of the agenda of the 35th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) which was held in Samoa from August 5-7.
Leaders agreed on terms of reference for the preparation of the plan, which was firstly mentioned among leaders of the 16- member Forum four months ago. The agreement itself shows "the determination of the region to carry on the plan despite great difficulties," a Forum source told Xinhua.
The plan was designed to cope with the benefits and challenges brought by globalization, featuring deeper and broader regional co-operation. It targets goals of achievement of economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.
Yet, researchers found that problems and difficulties blocking co-operation will not go away easily. A forum assessment report tabled at the summit appeared to be less optimistic than at the time the suggestion for the plan first caught people's attention, saying that "challenges that need addressing are indeed serious."
The assessment of existing mechanisms and processes for regional co-operation "clearly illustrates an overall trend characterized by limitations, stagnation or even decline."
The concerns that keep a bright future at a distance include resource depletion, rising poverty, declining health and education standards, natural disasters and security problems, according to the report.
But regional leaders showed their support for the plan despite all the tough problems ahead.
Forum Chairman, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: "Answers (to problems in the region) will not come quickly or appear overnight: but there definitely won't be any if there is no commitment to find solutions."
Forum leaders pinned hope on the plan, expressing their wish in a communique that the plan will "deliver real benefits for the Pacific peoples."
Forum leaders have defined three areas as short-term priorities for closer co-operation in the context of the Pacific Plan, namely key sectors of development, response to situations of crises and disasters and common policy frameworks for regional co-operation, according to Tuilaepa.
Meanwhile, the forum asked its development partners to use the Pacific Plan, once developed and approved, to guide their programming decisions. The idea was widely discussed with the forum's 12 dialogue partners at a two-day Post-Forum Dialogue.
The Forum has received positive response and support from dialogue partners. Western partners such as the US and the European Union voiced full support to the Pacific Plan. Among its Asian development partners, China gave reassurances of its co-operation and expressed the hope that the plan would serve to benefit the local peoples.
Trade and economic relations between China and PIF members have kept growing. Trade volume between China and the 14 small island countries - apart from Australia and New Zealand - was US$500 million last year, a 68 per cent growth over previous years.
China has stressed the importance of the one-China principle to the member nations as Vice-Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong told the meeting that it was essential for a "smooth development of China-PIF relations."
The PIF was established in 1971 as an inter-governmental body aiming at enhancing co-operation among the countries of the Pacific Ocean.
It groups Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fuji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Nice, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
(Xinhua-China Daily)
