What is the Pacific Islands Forum?
* The forum was founded in 1971 and brings together political leaders from 16 states and two territories including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji.
* It also includes much smaller Pacific nations including Niue, Tuvalu and Kiribati.
* Organisations including the World Bank and the United Nations observe the forum, as do neighbours including Guam, American Samoa and Timor Leste.
Why is it important?
* The forum is an important opportunity for leaders from small island states to voice their ambitions and concerns at the same table as much larger and more powerful neighbours.
* It allows countries to debate and develop regional strategies to tackle issues including climate change, trade and development, regional security and economic growth.
What's on the agenda?
* Maximising incomes from industries including tourism, fisheries and deep-sea mining, and governing how finances are spent.
* Addressing climate change and disaster risks by ensuring development is sustainable and resilient.
* Tackling rising sea levels, especially in light of President Donald Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
* Responding to shifts in global power, conflict and international relations, as China rises and America refocuses its attentions.
* Acting on rising poverty and inequality, food security and the depletion of natural resources.
* Nuclear waste issues in the North Pacific, ongoing conflict in West Papua, and freedom and fairness in regional political elections.
