President Wesley W. Simina and Vice President Aren B. Palik receive Members of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS)

Palikir, Pohnpei — On July 26, 2023, His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Honorable Aren B. Palik, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia received His Excellency David Kabua, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, His Excellency Surangel Whipps, Jr. President of the Republic of Palau, and the Honorable Marcus Stephen, Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Nauru, members of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit who visited the FSM to attend the Inaugural Ceremony of the new leadership of the FSM. During the calls, President Simina welcomed again and thanked his fellow members of MPS for the desire to join the celebration of the new leadership of the FSM. Among many others, President Simina as MPS Chair reaffirmed the importance of the ongoing consultations among MPS family to ensure continual updates on collective efforts in moving forward with the Forum family. As such, it was mutually agreed to convene the MPS Special Leaders’ meeting soon, prior to the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting slated for 6-10 November 2023. Additionally, the Presidents and Speaker Stephen emphasized the need to improve air and sea transport within the North Pacific to support trade and people-to-people exchange. Speaker Stephen reaffirmed Nauru’s nominee of Mr. Baron Waqa as the next Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, for which President Simina reassured the FSM\’s continued support.