Bainimarama invites Australian PM to attend Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in July

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has invited the newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be part of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in July this year.

This will be the first in-person meeting of Forum Leaders since 2019.

Bainimarama met with the Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong and thanked her for the timely visit to Fiji, which reinforces Australia’s commitment to the Vuvale Partnership.

The Prime Minister says the bilateral relations between the two nations have strengthened through the Vuvale Partnership, and that our solidarity is important now more than ever to overcome the unprecedented challenges we face and to build a resilient and sustainable Pacific.

He commended Albanese for his strong mandate on climate change.

Bainimarama reaffirmed the Fijian Government’s commitment to work closely with the Australian Government in addressing the common challenges, especially climate change and the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.

The two leaders also discussed potential areas of cooperation with prospects in trade and investment, tourism, economy, Pacific Australia Labour Mobility, United Nations Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Wong, says she wanted her visit to highlight the importance Australia places on its relationship with Fiji and the Pacific region.

She says she was delighted to meet with Bainimarama to strengthen Australia’s commitment to the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership.

She adds regional unity has never been more important as we face unprecedented challenges with COVID, climate change and strategic contests and she is looking forward to working with Fiji and the Pacific family to ensure the Blue Pacific remains strong and prosperous.