WELLINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- A leader of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) expects the France-Oceania leaders summit will focus on closer relationships between France's three Pacific dependencies and the rest of the region, the local news service Oceania Flash reported Wednesday.

    PIF Secretary-General Greg Urwin was quoted as saying that he believed that, among other issues, France was particularly willing to foster the 16 PIF member countries to "develop closer relationships with those French Pacific territories, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, as their political evolution continues.

    Pacific Islands Forum as an inter-governmental organization in the South Pacific region, groups currently 16 member countries, and is developing closer ties with dependent territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

    The France-Oceania summit is scheduled to take place on June 26in Paris under the Chairmanship of French President Jacques Chirac. All leaders from the 16 Pacific Islands Forum member countries have been invited, as well as executive bodies from France's three Pacific countries and territories.

    The first such meeting took place in July 2003 in Pape'ete (French Polynesia) during a French presidential Pacific tour.

    The Paris meeting is also to coincide with the official opening of a new Museum in Paris, that is dedicated to the world's indigenous cultures and peoples. It is also believed a large part of the permanent exhibition, featuring some unique pieces of art, is to be dedicated to the Pacific cultures, arts and traditions.

    Last week, Solomon Islands Foreign Affair Minister Patteson Oti confirmed that Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare would attend the Paris meeting.

    Australia and New Zealand governments are also likely to attendat the highest level. Enditem