Britain and NZ to co-host Pacific climate change forum

Britain and New Zealand will co-host a forum on Pacific climate change issues later this year.

The New Zealand Herald reports the Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the pledge on closer co-operation in the Pacific made by his British counterpart Boris Johnson following talks between the pair in London.

The two foreign ministers discussed a range of issues including future negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement post-Brexit in March 2019, and Peters reiterated New Zealand's support for the UK following the attack in Salisbury.

Following the meeting, Mr Johnson said the UK was one of the Pacific's oldest friends and wanted to play an even more valuable role as a partner to Pacific Island countries.

He said the two ministers agreed to co-host a Wilton Park forum on Pacific climate change issues in the United Kingdom in December.

Mr Johnson said Pacific leaders have shone a light on the grave impacts of climate change and the forum will further highlight challenges and priorities, and show how the region can be an early example for how to develop global responses to climate change.