Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

President Mori Participates in Bilateral Meetings with the US, China and Korea

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): August 11, 2010 - During the afternoon of the 22nd Post Forum Dialogue Partners Meeting, held at Le Lagon Resort, Vanuatu, on August 6, 2010, President Mori took the opportunity to meet with counter-parts in a series of Bilateral Meetings.

Mori, accompanied by his delegation comprised of Lorin Robert, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Gillian Doone, SBOC Assistant Director, Samson Pretrick, FSM Ambassador to Fiji, and Judy Mahan, Special Assistant to the President, first met with the US Delegation, headed by Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Campbell informed Mori that the US would actively seek ways to ensure FSM's active involvement in the Guam Build-Up. Alongside this, Campbell also offered to create military training sites in the FSM in coordination with relevant US agencies. Mori told Campbell he was extremely pleased that the US was considering the FSM for location of military training sites, an opportunity to further strengthen the FSM's relationship with the US.

The FSM Delegation subsequently met with Cui Tian Kai, Vice Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, and his Delegation. Mori thanked Kai for all the assistance which the Chinese Government has provided recently to the FSM, including the new Pohnpei Administration Building, the Kosrae High School and the repairs made on Chuuk and Yap shipping vessels. Mori outlined two other major areas in which the FSM currently needed assistance: the first being the connection of all States to the submarine fiber-optic cable for internet accessibility, and the second being the need to upgrade the country's sports facilities for the upcoming Micronesian Games being held in Pohnpei in 2014. Kai confirmed China's willingness to provide additional assistance in these areas and welcomed FSM's submission of concrete project requests.

Next, Mori met with Oh Jin Hee, Counsellor of the Republic of Korea. The two leaders agreed to attempt developing private sector investment in FSM from Korea, as well as promote FSM tourism in Korea. Hee stated that their government needed to propagate information about Micronesia to the Koreans as a first step towards encouraging business development from Korea to FSM. Mori suggested that encouraging Korean Airlines to make a stop in Pohnpei on its Fiji route could be the first step in the right direction.

In his discussions with representatives from World Bank, Mori was informed that there most likely are grants available for the FSM from World Bank for the renewable energy and telecommunications sectors; as well as possible 0% interest loans. The World Bank representatives and Mori agreed that loan commitments could possibly be made in the above-referenced sectors, in October, at the upcoming Financial Economic Ministers Meeting.

The FSM Delegation also met with representatives from Cuba, Morocco, Portugal and New Caledonia. All parties sought to promote relationships between their respective countries and FSM.