HONIARA - Kiribati took over the helm as Chair of the Smaller Island States (SIS) grouping in the Pacific on Monday, reaffirming the collective commitment of the region's most vulnerable nations to tackle shared challenges.

"If we are bold and united, the SIS will not only endure as a grouping, but will lead in showing how vulnerability can be transformed into political strength," Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau said at the SIS Leaders Meeting, which is part of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from Monday through Friday.

Maamau underscored the importance of advancing regional priorities, stating that "the onus now is on us to work closely with the CROP to ensure that we are able to advance these priorities in meaningful ways."

He was referring to the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific, which was established by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to improve cooperation, coordination and collaboration between Pacific regional organizations.

The outgoing chair, President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia, highlighted four priority actions identified for the SIS -- securing reliable air and sea transport, advancing fisheries development, strengthening regional procurement and health workforce mechanisms, and enhancing access to climate finance.

These priorities are "not abstract issues -- they are the realities that we contend with on a daily basis," Simina said.

Though few in number, the SIS embodies the challenges we experience as a region, the stark reality of climate change, the challenges of connectivity, and the tests of economic viability, he said.

The SIS group consists of eight members -- Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa also addressed the meeting, highlighting the SIS as "a political expression of our solidarity as the smallest and most vulnerable members, and a reminder that our regional architecture must serve all equally, especially those with the least capacity but the greatest need."

Founded in 1971, the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum aims to address pressing issues and challenges, and foster collaboration and cooperation between countries and territories of the Pacific region.