Fiji intends to further deepen its bilateral relations with Malaysia.
This was stated by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while meeting Malaysia’s Minister for Housing and Local Government Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin along the margins of the seventh session of the Asia-Pacific Urban Forum in Penang, Malaysia.
Bainimarama says that one such area Fiji aims to strengthen is local government.
The Prime Minister says the local government in Fiji is currently undergoing a significant reform process including a review of the legislation's governing local government, and town and country planning.
He says these reforms are aligned to the Pacific Urban Agenda, the new Urban Agenda, and the 2030 Agenda, among others.
The Prime Minister says as you know, local government are crucial to addressing climate change through sustainable urban development and Fiji hopes to also leverage the Penang Platform for Sustainable Urbanisation, through partnership and cooperation on key focus areas.
Bainimarama and Kamaruddin also discussed about the education system in Fiji, social welfare assistance and infrastructure to name a few.
