Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel will lead a high-level U.S. government delegation to the 28th Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Dialogue (PIF PFD) on September 11 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. His visit will advance the Obama Administration’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and demonstrate the U.S. commitment to cooperate with the Pacific Islands across the breadth of common economic, environmental, and security interests.
The U.S. delegation will include senior officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development. The PIF PFD will provide a forum for U.S. and Pacific Island leaders to discuss issues of regional and global importance including climate change, marine conservation, sustainable development, and health security. Assistant Secretary Russel will conduct bilateral consultations with heads of state of Pacific Islands Forum members and other senior foreign officials.
Assistant Secretary Russel will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. He will attend a reception celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps program in Micronesia, the oldest in the Pacific region.