Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister Rimbink Pato says his government is still hopeful Fiji’s leader will attend this year’s Pacific Islands Forum summit.

PNG is to host the meeting and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been invited but told Fiji media this week he will not attend.

Bainimarama wants New Zealand and Australia to be removed as members or for the other donors, such as China and Japan, to be included as members.

Pato told Radio New Zealand International his government is firmly committed to the continued membership of New Zealand and Australia in the regional agency.

He says if there are issues they can be fixed from within.