The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma is to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in Cairns, Australia next week.
Mr Sharma attends at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd as host, in line with the Commonwealth's status as an observer at the Forum.
The Secretary-General will take the opportunity to discuss the Pacific region's priorities and preoccupations in a range of areas, including economic, environmental and political issues.
Following Cairns, the Mr Sharma will also visit the Solomon Islands.
