Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka met with New Zealand’s Deputy Leader of Opposition Honourable Nicola Willis in Wellington today.
The meeting was an opportunity to reflect on Fiji and New Zealand’s long-standing relations and to promote the ideals of democracy through the Duavata Partnership Agreement.
Prime Minister Rabuka acknowledged New Zealand’s increasing engagement with Fiji and the Blue Pacific region notably through ‘Partnership and Democracy’.
During the meeting, he shared his own experience as a former Leader of Opposition.
Now as Leader of the Coalition Government, he said, to be voted on the floor of Parliament by the power of one vote; a first in the history of Fiji, was a defining moment for him.
Speaking on regional issues, Hon. Rabuka said the Pacific’s solidarity has progressed over the past five months but, “there is still much more that we can accomplish together as a unified region.”
He stressed the need for greater regional cooperation in order to realise our vision as stipulated in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific.
Discussions at the meeting also highlighted prospects for inter-parliament collaboration and exchanges of good practices and experience to strengthen capacity-building for parliamentarians of both countries.
In response, Hon. Willis congratulated Prime Minister Rabuka for winning the general election and wished him well on his leadership role.
She also expressed her appreciation to Hon. Rabuka for the productive discussions which builds on opportunities for greater development cooperation between the two nations.
The Foreign Affairs spokesperson Honourable Gerry Brownlee was also part of the meeting.
