India and Fiji also discussed ways to further strengthen their development partnership
India sees Fiji as a very important partner in the Indo-Pacific, External Affairs S Jaishankar said on Thursday as he held a series of meetings with the top Fijian leadership in Suva on Thursday. During these meetings, India and Fiji also discussed ways to further strengthen their development partnership. EAM Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to Fiji to attend the World Hindi Conference being co-hosted by Fiji and India. EAM JAISHANKAR MEETS PRIME MINISTER RABUKA During a bilateral meeting with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, both leaders took stock of the bilateral relations and discussed the Indo-Pacific region. "A warm and wide ranging meeting with PM and FM @slrabuka of Fiji in Suva. Discussed our long-standing ties and ways of intensifying cooperation. Exchanged views on areas of priority. We will upgrade our development partnership accordingly," EAM Jaishankar tweeted. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), they discussed ways and means to further strengthen the development partnership between India and Fiji in various areas, including capacity building, health, education, agriculture and Information Technology. In his statement at the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Fiji, EAM Jaishankar said, "We discussed regional and global issues of shared interest. We agreed to work more closely towards strengthening our multilateral cooperation, working strongly in international organizations". TALKS FOCUS ON THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION "We particularly focused on the Pacific region because again India sees Fiji as a very important partner in the Indo-Pacific. We hope to co-host the third Summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in the coming months and we would certainly value Fiji’s presence and leadership on that occasion," he added. According to EAM Jaishankar, India has been privileged to partner with Fiji in its nation building efforts across various sectors and working with it in capacity building in areas like health, education, agriculture. "We are very confident of our long-standing relations between our two countries," he remarked. Additionally, EAM Jaishankar met senior members of the Fijian cabinet including the three Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers for Home Affairs, Health, Education, Multi-ethnic Affairs and Sugar. A visa waiver agreement was also signed between India and Fiji that would permit diplomatic and official passport holders of the two countries to travel and stay in each other’s country without holding a visa for 90 days. "It will certainly be helpful in encouraging greater travel between our two countries," EAM Jaishankar said. While in Suva, he called on President Ratu Williame Katonivere at the State House and launched along with the Fijian President, the Government of India funded project for the Solarisation of the Pacific Heads of State Residence at the State House in Suva. The project is the inaugural pilot of the Solar Head of State initiative launched by the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) in Fiji and funded by India-UN Development Partnership Fund. "This project reflects India’s strong commitment to climate action, to climate justice, which is also underlining our shared priorities with the Pacific islands on this very important challenge of climate change," EAM Jaishankar said. STORY OF THE FIJI-INDIAN EXPERIENCE He also inaugurated the renovated Girmit Gallery in Fiji Museum, that has been supported by the Government of India under bilateral grant-in-aid. The Gallery showcases the journey of the Girmits (Indian indentured laborers) in Fiji. "Visited the Fiji Museum and inaugurated the Girmit gallery there supported by India. The exposition of the story of the Fiji-Indian experience captures the striving of our people who created their own way of life far away from home," EAM Jaishankar tweeted. "Their contribution will always be valued and serve as our motivation to work towards stronger India-Fiji relations," he added. He also unveiled the bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in India House in Suva, where he interacted with a large gathering of members of the diaspora community.