THE President of Kiribati has paid a special visit to Monmouthshire whilst on a trip to Europe discussing climate change.

Anote Tong and the First Lady spent two days at the home of Kirbati-born Rotee Walsh, and her husband, Michael, in Llandewi Rhydderch, near Abergavenny, earlier this month.

Mr Walsh, who has represented the Republic of Kiribati in the UK since 1996 as their Honorary Consul, said the visit formed part of a trip that encompassed both the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta and the Paris Climate Change negotiations.

Mr Walsh said that whilst the President had visited Cardiff many years ago, this was his first visit to the Welsh countryside.

During their stay the couple were given a tour of Abergavenny and planted a tree in the grounds of the Honorary Consulate to commemorate their visit.

He said: “He and the First Lady had never seen an ‘old’ town like Abergavenny and were fascinated by it.

“Anote and I worked together more than 40 years ago, when we were both young economists in the then Colonial Government; and we married two cousins, a week apart from each other.

“So while it is an honour for Rotee and I to welcome a President, we have also been entertaining a very old friend and relation.”

Kiribati is made up of 33 atoll islands, spread out over a distance equivalent to that of London to Moscow to Ankara and Madrid. The islands are individually tiny and in terms of land area the whole of Kiribati is almost exactly the same as that of Monmouthshire. There is nowhere higher than ten feet above sea level, putting Kiribati in the frontline of climate change.

Mr Tong, who has been President for 12 years has been a tireless campaigner on climate change and for the world’s leaders to take action to contain global warming.

Mr Tong said the atolls of Kiribati are experiencing increased wave heights and frequency, and this is placing increased pressure on the shoreline and seawalls, with recent king tides causing three metre high waves that devastated some villages, sweeping farmland out to sea and contaminating fresh water wells. Despite building sea walls, the relocation of its 110,000 population may be the only long-term option.

While he was in Wales the final meeting of the Paris talks took place and he gave his approval for them to sign by telephone to his negotiating team prior to the Treaty being agreed.

The trip was being filmed as part of a documentary about Mr Tong’s final months in office. He is due complete three terms of office and step down as an MP early in the New Year.