Prime Minister Rabuka meets Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Penny Wong

Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka met with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Penny Wong, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite, in Suva today.

In welcoming the Australian delegation, Prime Minister Rabuka said that the meeting reaffirmed the enduring strength of the renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership.

The meeting focused on strengthening Fiji and Australia’s bilateral relations and our shared commitment in economic development, climate resilience, regional security, and people to people links under the Fiji-Australia renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership.

The meeting was an opportunity for Minister Wong to reiterate Australia’s commitment to working with the Pacific family to achieve the two countries’ shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and unified region.

‘Australia listens and responds to Fiji’s needs and values the leadership role that it plays to ensure peace and unity within the region’ she said.

Prime Minister Rabuka and Foreign Minister Wong also discussed her visit to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where she will make announcements on Australia’s support to bolster the Government of Fiji’s work on improving healthcare outcomes, and its response to the HIV outbreak – a tangible achievement under our Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership.

In acknowledging the support, Prime Minister Rabuka highlighted that the enhancement of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) is a key priority under the Australia-Fiji Development Partnership Plan, aimed at enhancing healthcare services for the people of Fiji.

Minister Wong said she was pleased to be back in the Pacific, and to be accompanied by Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite for this important visit.
“On my seventh visit to Fiji as Foreign Minister, I am delighted to be back in the Pacific, and to continue to progress Fiji’s priorities under our Vuvale Partnership – a partnership our future generations will be proud of –including as Fiji’s largest development partner,” said Minister Wong.