SUVA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The 6th Pacific Sports Ministers' meeting kicked off on Friday in Nadi, the third largest city in Fiji, with the participation of sports ministers from 11 Pacific island states.

Speaking at meeting with the theme of "Strengthening Sports and Sustainable Development in the Pacific," Fiji's Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou said it was an opportunity for leaders to share their countries' best practices to further advance sporting activities with their Pacific neighbors.

"It becomes imperative that we share our concerns, best practices and learning experiences that can assist one another to propel sports in our countries," he said. "We are to show the world that Pacific Island countries are sport-loving people and are equally capable of presenting athletes that can compete with the rest of the world."

According to a statement from the Fijian Department of Information, the two-day meeting will see sports ministers from the region deliberating on areas in sports that need attention as well as look at further development of sports in the individual countries.