The official welcoming ceremony is being held for leaders attending the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting at Gizo in Solomon Islands' Western Province.
The chairman of the MSG, Roch Wamytan, says the ceremony will be followed by a full day of activities for the foreign ministers who are attending.
"IN: After, we'll go to the stadium for the welcome song and the speech etc. and after that there is the retreat for the leaders this afternoon. Tomorrow morning is the executive session."
Roch Wamytan.
Fiji's foreign minister, Kaliopate Tavola, says the MSG meeting in Gizo is very important because the member countries are in transition.
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia's FLNKS pro-independence movement are all members.
