WELLINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- National mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that Pacific islands are "in the driver's seat" of strengthened regionalism under the Pacific Plan.

    This was one of the central points of discussion at the Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) meeting currently underway in Nadi, Fiji.

    PPAC is made up of representatives from all Pacific Island Forum countries, and is responsible for providing political guidance and oversight to the Forum Secretariat on the direction of the Pacific Plan's implementation and on-going development.

    Pacific Plan is the strategic blueprint adopted last year by the South Pacific countries at the Pacific Island Forum for regional development to enhance and stimulate economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security.

    The Pacific Island Forum (known until Oct. 27, 2000 as the South Pacific Forum), a key political organization in the Pacific, brings at an annual meeting the 16 heads of government of the independent and self-governing states in the Pacific.

    Overall implementation of the Pacific Plan's initiatives would be reviewed annually by Pacific Leaders.

    The report would include recommendations on future directions for the Plan.

    Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin said Friday that establishment of national policies and mechanisms for regionalism is now acknowledged as the most critical element in implementing the Pacific Plan.

    "This is to ensure that the best possible connections are made between national priorities and regional decisions, and resource allocation," said Urwin.