Pacific island leaders are discussing regional security at meetings in the United States.
The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is chairing the 10th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders which is meeting in Hawaii.
He says he expects the Pacific island countries to come out of the discussion with the US holding a stronger collective perspective on the region's key issues including climate change and security.
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US President Barack Obama is expected to attend the meeting.
Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta
Mr O'Neill says the meeting provides an opportunity to work with US officials towards the change of government in the US so leaders can hit the ground running when the new President is inaugurated in January.
He says with so many security issues facing the international community, Pacific island countries must partner with other like-minded nations and stand for their interests in the global community.
The Prime Minister told local media that said one of the important features of the PICL is the access it provides to some of the best research scholars and policy officials in the region.
"In the past this has covered research in areas that include the drawdown of RAMSI, maritime issues, the future of seabed mining and other significant regional matters.
"This week, we have a number of important topics before us including regional safety and security and these are issues affect all Pacific Island nations.
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