On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend my sincerest congratulations to the people of Tuvalu in recognition of the 41st anniversary of your independence on October 1. The United States has been a friend of Tuvalu since your independence in 1978, and our close ties extend back to earlier generations. We welcome your commitment to advancing our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region with other democracies in the Pacific region including Australia, New Zealand, ...