Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama received a courtesy call from the new British High Commissioner to Fiji, Christopher George Edgar.
Bainimarama congratulated Edgar on his new appointment and reaffirmed the Fijian Government’s continued support to advance the bilateral partnership between Fiji and the United Kingdom through collaboration with the British High Commission in Suva.
He conveyed the Fijian government’s appreciation to the United Kingdom government for their contributions to Fiji’s national development and support to the region.
A statement says the Fijian Government acknowledged the latest announcement by the UK Government to provide £1.8m to support the Pacific’s COVID-19 preparedness and response, aiding Fiji and the region.
Bainimarama says Fiji looks forward to strengthening engagements with the UK by working closely with the High Commissioner.
It says Fiji will also capitalise on the upcoming meetings of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting next month and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June next year and redouble efforts with the UK Government to pursue shared aspirations on the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The Prime Minister has assured the UK Government of Fiji’s commitment to drive the global ambition on climate change in the build-up to COP26 under UK’s Presidency.
The statement also says Fiji will leverage increased support for the Small Island Development States that are prone to greater vulnerability and devastation caused by climate change crisis.
Discussions also revolved around the links between climate change and oceans and the importance of close collaboration ahead of the UK-chaired COP26, UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021.
British High Commissioner to Fiji, Christopher George Edgar says he is honored to take up his new diplomatic role in Fiji and assured the UK Government’s commitment to continue to support the Fijian Government in advancing Fiji’s national priorities and leadership at the global and regional arena.
He expressed UK’s gratitude for Fiji’s commitment to the British Armed Forces and praised Fiji’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping.
He also praised the Fijian Government’s commitment and the swift coordination of Fiji’s national response to containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Edgar say he looks forward to Fiji’s 50th Anniversary independence in particular the special nature of the Fiji and UK relations, and the shared history and values.
Prior to his appointment, Edgar was the European Union Ambassador to Cambodia from 2015 – 2019, before taking up the post of Deputy Director for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Coronavirus Task Force.
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