Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has conveyed Fiji’s desire to strengthen the bilateral relations between the UK and Fiji, especially in light of the strong historical links between the two nations.
In a meeting with British Minister of State, Hugo Swire at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Bainimarama pointed out that to this day a significant number of Fijians still serve in the British Armed Forces.
Bainimarama took the opportunity to provide an update on the recent political developments in Fiji, focusing on the success of the General Election in September.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the Minister’s role in the formation of the All Party Political Group on the Pacific (APPG) and the proposed Pacific Island Business Forum, hailing these developments as positive tools to raise the unique development challenges of the Pacific region in the UK.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Prime Minister to discuss the challenge climate change poses for Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS).
Bainimarama says Fiji would appreciate more support from the UK to assist some of the worst affected islands in the region, like Kiribati and Tuvalu.
The two also discussed defence cooperation, technical training, and trade and investment opportunities during their meeting.
The meeting ended with Swire agreeing with the Prime Minister to pursue stronger relations between the two countries, with the possibility of a high level visit in 2015.
