Fiji, Sept. 11 -- Pacific Leaders on Wednesday endorsed the Ocean of Peace Declaration, a visionary initiative first proposed by Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in 2023.

As a token of appreciation, the Fiji Government presented a whale's tooth - the highest token of respect and gratitude - which was accepted by Forum Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremaiah Manele.

"Today, I'm mindful that I appear before you as, perhaps, a diminishing group of a generation of Pacific leaders, tasked with the time-honoured tradition of nurturing and cementing vanua relationships or the Veiwekani Vakavanua, Land, Fanua or Whenua links and ties. This tradition is the anchor of our Vuvale or family, people, history and our unique cultures,"...