DILI, 09 october 2023 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister (PM) Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao and his delegation leaves for Indonesia to attend the High-Level Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum which will take place on 10-11 october, 2023, in Bali, Indonesia.
Delegates from more than 50 island and archipelagic countries will be gathered to attend the event with the theme: “Fostering Collaboration, Enabling Innovation for Our Ocean and Our Future.”
Earlier this week, the AIS Forum called for archipelagic and island countries to strengthen solidarity in overcoming common problems in the maritime sector.
“The forum was initiated as a platform to discuss and address common problems faced by archipelagic and island countries,” said the Head of the AIS Forum Secretariat, Riny Modaso, in a statement, last week.
The statement said that many of the archipelagic and island countries are experiencing marine-related issues, such as climate change, which causes sea levels to rise.
Meanwhile, the other two key topics to be discussed during the high-level meeting, including the blue economy and the ocean.
The AIS Forum is important for the Archipelagic and Island States to make a collective effort to overcome marine-related issues.
The AIS Forum High-Level Meeting in Bali is the first of its kind and will be the right momentum to reemphasize the importance of collaboration and collective solidarity, reaffirmed at the level of heads of state/government.
Since its establishment in 2018 through the Manado Joint Declaration, the AIS Forum has consistently acted as a medium for the participating to mutually strengthen active cooperation and collaboration regardless of the size, socioeconomic conditions, and levels of development.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
