The United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis hopes Pacific nations are able to work together to tackle the challenges facing the region and the world.

Mr. Francis is among key figures who are the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting along with Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There are more than 500 delegates and this is the first time a UNGA president has attended the Forum Leaders Meeting.

He also was able to meet with Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa on the sidelines of the Leaders meeting.

Mr. Francis was speaking at a news conference on the margins of the opening day which was Tuesday Apia time.

"We have to work together to unify our positions in order to address the challenges we face," he said at the press conference.

"And right here in the Pacific, for islands that are small, under-resourced, remote, and highly vulnerable, the challenges are first and foremost climate change and sea-level rise.

"They are, to be clear, existential, threatening your homes, your homelands, your heritage, your culture, your livelihoods, and your communities."

Mr. Francis was very clear and precise about his message when he said that said he refused to be a bystander to the disappearance and loss of such profound history and heritage as well as the challenges faced by the people in the region forced by necessity, to abandon their native homeland, rendered uninhabitable by rising sea-level.

He said the UNGA and the entire UN system needed to act decisively to help small islands, including through adaptation efforts and resilience building.

"It includes, for example, helping to ensure that resources are available to communities to respond quickly and flexibly to disasters and/or climate related events that destroy or damage sensitive and/or necessary infrastructure and facilities,” he said at the press conference.

"It includes working to protect, for posterity, the rich and diverse tapestries of culture and heritage built by island communities over several generations.

"And it includes removing any doubt or uncertainty that exists, politically, about the statehood, sovereignty and accompanying rights, including the maritime zones, that impacted countries have, as well as about the long-term status of their membership of the United Nations."

Meanwhile, the Samoan community in the Cook Islands is hoping to meet with Fiame to discuss a few issues which may include a Samoan consulate in Rarotonga.

Also on Tuesday evening, the Pacific leaders were entertained by a unique cultural performance by the Cook Islands featuring adult and children entertainers.