Small Island States (SIS) chairman and Niue Premier Toke Talagi (R) and New Secretary General of SIS are seen in a news conference in Cairns, Australia, on Aug. 4, 2009. Leaders' Meeting for Smaller Islands States kicked off in Cairns Tuesday morning, ahead of Wednesday's official opening of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum.(Xinhua/Huang Xingwei) Photo Gallery>>>

    CAINRS, Australia, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the 18th Smaller Island States Leaders' Meeting (SIS) said here Tuesday the success in addressing common problems for SIS lie in the jointcommitment to the implementation of collective solutions.

    Toke Tufukia Talagi, Chairman of the SIS and Premier of Niue urged all of the SIS leaders to consider it seriously in constructing a way forward for all the smaller states.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai (front L) and Kiribati Foreign Minister Tessie Lambourne (front R) attend the opening meeting of the 18th Smaller Island State Leaders' Meeting (SIS) in Cairns, Australia, on Aug. 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Jiang Yaping) Photo Gallery>>>

    Talagi said the meeting's focus is on pertinent matters specific to SIS, which include sub-regional shipping, labor mobility, bulk procurement of petroleum, development financing andprogress to date on the implementation of the Niue Declaration on Climate Change.

    He said considerable progress has been made on the implementation of the Pacific Plan. However, SIS continue to face a number of challenges in its implementation which means the Pacific Islands Forum's continued support for the SIS unit will becritical. It will ensure that SIS concerns and needs continue to be given special attention and assist them in achieving the goals of the Plan.

New Secretary General of SIS Tuiloma Neroni Slade speaks during the opening meeting of the 18th Smaller Island State Leaders' Meeting (SIS) in Cairns, Australia, on Aug. 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Jiang Yaping) Photo Gallery>>>

    New Secretary General of SIS Tuiloma Neroni Slade said in opening remarks that significant progress have been made on the bulk procurement of petroleum products initiative which has seen the launch of the first phase of the Pacific Petroleum Project.

    The tendering process is now almost complete to establish the Project Implementation Unit which is required to remain in place until all key milestones are successfully completed but not longerthan the first quarter of next year at which point full implementation of the Pacific Petroleum Project is required.

    Critics say although Australia and New Zealand are talking a good game on climate change, they are not taking domestic action. The Pacific Island countries will continue to encourage the metropolitan powers to take more action on climate change, both domestically and in international negotiations.

Small Island States (SIS) chairman and Niue Premier Toke Talagi (R) and New Secretary General of SIS are seen in a news conference in Cairns, Australia, on Aug. 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Xingwei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Many believe the vulnerable smaller island states form a strongvoice on climate change, however they are often in a position of depending on aid and defending themselves against global changes.

    Pacific countries are big aid recipients of Australia and New Zealand and thus don't have strong bargaining position on issues like climate change, as many of them would like to see Australia and New Zealand go much further on the issue. Obviously it is difficult for them to be too openly critical in the Pacific Islands Forum which will see 15 heads of government and more than 450 delegates.

    Leaders' Meeting for Smaller Islands States kicked off in Cairns Tuesday morning, ahead of Wednesday's official opening of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum. Members of the SIS includes Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.