Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, marking his first official visit in 25 years.
Confirming the visit in a brief statement, NZ Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said: “We look forward to welcoming him here once again.”
He said the two countries have a long-standing relationship, based on close cooperation in areas of mutual interest including climate change, and ensuring a safe, secure, and economically prosperous Pacific region.
“While we were together in Papua New Guinea recently, it was clear Prime Minister Rabuka was highly respected and influential not just in Fiji, but also across the wider Pacific region. I’m looking forward to building on our discussions there, and reaffirming New Zealand’s support as a trusted friend and bilateral partner to Fiji.”
Rabuka last visited NZ as Fiji’s PM in 1998.
“Our countries share a strong focus on Pacific regionalism, including upholding Pacific Islands Forum unity; resuming financial support for the University of South Pacific; and working with other traditional partners, such as Australia, on defence and security matters.
“We’re also cooperating closely to address climate change and its impacts. Both New Zealand and Fiji are not strangers to the devastating impacts of climate change, and I again want to thank Fiji for their support in our response to Cyclone Gabrielle,” Hipkins said.
“I’m also confident we’ll be discussing our long history of close sporting, cultural, and people-to-people links and the work we are doing alongside the Fiji Government in the spirit of our Duavata Partnership agreement.”
While in New Zealand, Rabuka will undertake a series of formal engagements in Auckland and Wellington, including bilateral meetings with Hipkins, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Climate Change James Shaw, and a ceremonial visit to the National War Memorial and Pacific War Memorial Te Reo Hotunui o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, at Pukeahu.
Complementing this, Prime Minister Rabuka’s programme also includes a number of community events, coordinated by the Fiji High Commission in New Zealand.
