The United States Embassy in Wellington says officials will be looking closely at proposals for President George Bush to hold a meeting with South Pacific leaders next year.
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, discussed the idea with the Mr Bush during the APEC meeting in Vietnam over the weekend.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy, David Keegan, says small island states have real challenges providing comprehensive good governance and it make sense for all those who care about the region to try to help:
"We have made it clear that this is high on our agenda. Obviously the placement of the Apec meeting in Sydney, does make this something that is a possibility and I'm confident that it will be taken very seriously at senior levels in the State Department, the National Security Council and the White House."
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Wellington, David Keegan
