Vanuatu, Jan. 19 -- Vanuatu has begun preparations for hosting the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' (PIF) meeting, to be convened in early August, immediately after the country celebrates its 40th independence anniversary on 30 July.

It will be the second time Vanuatu to host the annual gathering of Pacific Leaders, with the previous occasion being in 2010.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign affairs said the hosting of the region's premiere event from the 04-07 August is particularly significant given it coincides with Vanuatu's celebration of 40 years of independence.

"In 1980, as the country prepared to declare political independence from Great Britain and France, it was at the behest of a budding regional institution - then...