7 November 2023

Cook Islands, 7 November, 2023:- The Honourable Hu’akavameiliku, the Prime Minister of Tonga, met His Excellency Mr. Georges Rebelo Chikoti, the Secretary General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on Tuesday November 7 on the sideline of the 52nd Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.

The meeting was a befitting opportunity for Hon. Hu’akavameiliku to express Tonga’s gratitude for the
secretariat’s support, especially in the important work towards the much anticipated Samoa Agreement to be signed in Apia, Samoa next week.

“Tonga has come a long way from its long partnership within the OACPS, and our deepened commitments and engagements with a Post Cotonou Agreement marks our elevated commitment towards further strengthening that partnership through the milestone Samoa Agreement,” Hon Hu’akavameiliku told the Secretary-General.

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said that Tonga looks forward to an ambitious but a strengthened political partnership and the mutually beneficial outcomes of common interests that the Samoa Agreement shall generate.

“It is the platform that we embrace to overcome the common development challenges towards a sustainable future for our people.

“Tonga now looks forward to leveraging the potential trade and other shared opportunities with the European Union under the SAMOA Agreement.”

He added the outcomes of the close partnership will pave the way for critical regional process and to building the momentum on international obligations to realising Members’ desired outcomes.

-ENDS-