Representatives from six Melanesian Spearhead Group member countries or territories have gathered in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila to mark 25 years of the Melanesian sub-regional organisation.
In the absence of chairman of the MSG, Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Franck Bainimarama, his Vanuatu's counterpart, Sato Kilman has delivered the official speech.
Mr Kilman says that as a relatively young group, MSG has achieved many key milestones and is committed to further enhancing such achievements that he lists as being in the areas of governance, security, trade, economics, social development and culture.
Within the Pacific region, Mr Kilman says the MSG is gradually establishing effective partnership with the Pacific Island Forum and other regional organisations.
He describes arguments that the MSG is becoming a threat to the role of the Forum as unfounded.
