The Prime Minister James Marape lead his Papua New Guinea-PNG delegation into the first ever U.S-Pacific Island Country Summit at the State Department Building in Washington DC yesterday (Wednesday, 28th September 2022, 1pm (local time). Mr Marape was accompanied by Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, Foreign Affairs Secretary Elias Wohengu, Ambassador Max Rai, Representative to the PNG Permanent Mission to UN, Charge de’ Affaires to the PNG Embassy in Washington DC, Mr Cephas Kayo and senior PNG government officials. The Governor of East New Britain Michael Marum, Goilala MP, Casmiro Aia and North Waghi MP, Benjamin Mul are also part of the Prime Minister’s delegation to the Summit. The two day summit was opened yesterday (Wednesday, 28th September 2022, 1pm local Washington time) by US Secretary of State Antony John Blinken at the Franklin Roosevelt Room at the State Department Building. Secretary Blinken welcomed the Pacific Island Country Leaders and said “US to hear out the Pacific leaders and their concerns, on trade and economics, climate change, security and the concerns for the greater Blue Pacific strategy.” Secretary Blinken further applauded the Pacific Island country Leaders for their support and commitment in attending the summit and to discuss issues of common interest with the US and the Pacific region. Issues discussed today at the summit includes “people centred development in the Pacific” amongst others are “Pacific economy and Trade ties” with discussions on climate action, climate resilience, and clean energy transformation”. These are key issues that Prime Minister James Marape addressed when he delivered PNG Country statement at the 77th UN General Assembly in New York last week suggesting that “despite rallying efforts by global community, the world remains on fire”. PM Marape further stressed that “rising sea level continue to inundate and adversely affect coastal communities” and he had reiterated his call for the global north to support submissions that will preserve and protect the rainforests as well as the coastal marine life. Secretary Blinken stressed on the importance of resilient pacific blue economy and safe livelihoods and announced various funding facilities including for the new Resilient Blue Economies program which will strengthen marine livelihoods by supporting sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. Those present were Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manaseh Sogovare, Prime Minister of Tuvalu Kausea Natano, Prime Minister of Samoa Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau, Prime Minister of Vanuatu Bob Loughman, President of the Federated State of Micronesia David Panuelo, President of Nauru Lionel Aingimea, and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape. Prime Minister Marape will tomorrow meet US President Joe Biden at the White House with the Pacific Island Country leaders in attendance at the Summit who will close the meeting. It is in a the program too where they will meet Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Mr Marape concludes his first meeting here in Washington D.C. on Friday and he returns home to Papua New Guinea.