Pacific Island leaders agreed on Friday to a new framework that would allow nations to join a key regional forum as strategic partners, after accusations that China was influencing regional decision-making.

The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum in the Solomon Islands concluded after leaders met behind closed doors on Friday, with the gathering's key talking point being the "dialogue partners" who were controversially banned from attending this year.

Alongside member states that include key players Australia and New Zealand, the gatherings are typically attended by dozens more countries as observers or partners.

However, the Solomon Islands barred most of those partners from attending this year, sparking accusations that Honiara worked at Beijing's behest to exclude long-time participant T

See Full Page