New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has this afternoon lauded the efforts of Fiji in fighting transnational crimes.
She had also announced in detail how her government will be helping its Fijian counterparts.
Ardern says New Zealand and Fiji face challenges with the ever-growing issue of drug fight at our borders and this is the reason her government will be giving a total of 11 million dollars.
She says this will include the setting up of three labs, which will commence in May, coupled with four fulltime experts to work with the Fiji Police Force.
Also included in this is the provision of trained trackers dogs to help detect drugs.
Ardern says she continues to support Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama in the fight against climate change, adding Fiji can to count on New Zealand being a partner in this fight.
Bainimarama has also been extended an invitation by Ardern for a state visit to New Zealand.
Our world badly needs more leaders like @jacindaardern.
She and I both know the Fiji-NZ partnership extends far beyond our patch of the Pacific — together, our voices can inspire the global climate action we need to leave this planet better than we found it ????? pic.twitter.com/bXL9rMZZp4
— Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) February 25, 2020
The New Zealand PM also praised Fiji for being a champion in having a big number of women parliamentarians.
Other issues discussed between Ardern and Bainimarama, included the growing concern of COVID-19 and Pacer Plus.
Bainimarama says Ardern remains a charismatic leader and continues to inspire not only her country but the world.
“She and I both see the power in a simple idea; the idea that no matter their background or creed, our people’s fates are bound by nationhood. For much of Fiji’s 50-year history as an independent nation, that was a revolutionary concept. But after shutting the door on decades of hurt and division, today, every citizen of this country can call themselves a proud Fijian, united in the purpose of building a better nation.”
He says New Zealand is Fiji’s second-largest regional trading partner and every year, tens of thousands of Kiwis visit our shores, and Fijian and New Zealand businesses send flows of goods, services and investments across our borders that sustain and create jobs within our economies and also touching on climate change.
“It’s one of many ways Fiji and New Zealand are leading the global race to net-zero. I want to congratulate New Zealand on passing its climate change response “zero-carbon” bill. Fiji is proud to join you on the right side of history bypassing our own Climate Change Bill this year, which lays out our pathway to net-zero emissions. With mounting uncertainty in the global economy, Prime Minister Ardern and I spoke at great length of new avenues of regional economic opportunity. Whether its building climate resilience and climate-focused financial products, providing good housing, expanding access to homeownership, adding greater convenience and liveability to our urban centres, sustainably managing our farms and fisheries, building capacity in education and training, or opening new flows of trade, technology and expertise, we can look within our region –– and to each other –– to ride out the global economic headwinds we face, both now and on the horizon.”
More to follow.
