Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was given a guard of honour by the Government of Fiji on Wednesday morning to welcome her into the country as Pacific leaders have started assembling for the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Special Retreat.

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Members clad in their ceremonial uniforms, did an official salute at the Nadi International Airport as Fiame touched down. 

Fiame who is now in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Retreat is accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.F.A.T.) Peseta Noumea Simi. 

Upon their arrival, they were greeted at the Nadi International Airport by the High Commissioner of Samoa to Fiji, Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia and Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Lynda Tabuya.

Prime Minister Fiame did not waste any time. She went straight to the 2023 Pacific Early Childhood Development Forum held at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi, joining other government leaders for the opening ceremony of the three-day meeting on E.C.D. 

On Wednesday, Fiame was joined by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of Tonga, Siaosi Sovaleni, Vice President of the Kiribati, Dr. Teuea Toatu and the Secretary-General for Pacific Island Forum, Henry Puna in a panel discussion at the E.C.D Forum.

The traditional welcoming ceremony for the Pacific Island Leaders Retreat will be held on Thursday evening at the Golden Ballroom, followed by a welcoming reception and opening Dinner at Denarau Island Convention Center. 

The rest of the programme will be held on Friday with a press conference taking place on Friday afternoon before the farewell reception.  

Fiame has already confirmed that one of the key issues Samoa will raise during this meeting is the Recognised Seasonal Employment (R.S.E.) scheme. 

Meanwhile topping the agenda for the Retreat is the return of Kiribati to the regional body and Japan's plan to discharge radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. There will be discussion on how the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent will be moved forward. This is the document that deals with security, development, partner dialogues and climate change.