By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will begin his trip to Nuku‘alofa, Tonga on Aug. 28 to lead the U.S. delegation to the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
, hosted by the Kingdom of Tonga and chaired by the Prime Minister of Tonga, the Hon. Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
"He will also engage Pacific Island leaders on the margins to promote the goals and achievements of the U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy," according to the department's Office of the Spokesperson.
From Tonga, Campell will visit Vanuatu to dedicate Embassy Port Vila, the United States’ newest overseas mission. His visit will also highlight a Peace Corps contribution to Port Vila Central Hospital and a repatriation of Vanuatu cultural artifacts made possible by interagency coordination between the State Department, FBI, U.S. Coast Guard and FedEx.
On Aug. 30, Campell will proceed to Auckland, where he will co-chair the U.S.-New Zealand Strategic Dialogue, meet with senior government officials, and launch the inaugural High-Level Technology Dialogue.
"These engagements in Tonga, Vanuatu, and New Zealand represents the latest in a series of high-level visits to the region by senior U.S. officials," the spokesperson said.
"These visits have deepened U.S. engagement with the Pacific Islands, building on the momentum and goodwill established during the September 2023 U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit in Washington, D.C, as well as the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture hosted by Hawai‘i in June 2024," the spokesperson added.
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