Fiji, May 30 -- Cook Islands Prime Minister this week met with Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy in Sydney to strengthen bilateral ties and push forward shared regional priorities.

"Our meeting was productive, respectful, and grounded in the shared values that unite our two nations across the Blue Pacific Continent," the Prime Minister said in a statement following the talks.

Key outcomes of the meeting included support for Australia's bid to host a future Pacific COP, a move the Prime Minister called "a vital platform to ensure Pacific voices are leading the global climate agenda."

The leaders also marked the return of Te Kukupa II to the Cook Islands, a patrol boat gifted by Australia. The...