Washington, DC - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Patrick Murphy will travel to the Philippines, New Zealand, and Fiji February 26-March 7.

PDAS Murphy will visit Manila, Philippines February 26-March 1 to support Secretary Pompeo's visit and meet with Filipino counterparts to discuss issues of mutual interest, in addition to engaging with business and civil society.

March 1-5, he will travel to Wellington, New Zealand to meet with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Parliament, and other leaders to discuss the bilateral partnership and cooperation on Indo-Pacific priorities.

In Suva and Nadi Fiji, March 5-7, PDAS Murphy will meet with senior government officials to discuss regional security, economic development, and environmental resilience. He will give closing remarks at the first “Strengthening the U.S. – Pacific Islands Partnership” conference in Nadi co-sponsored by the Department of State and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He will also participate in the 6th annual Young Pacific Leaders Initiative conference being held this year in Suva. While in Fiji, he will also meet with Peace Corps volunteers.