Hon. Qereqeretabua Receives Courtesy Call from Papua New Guinea High Commissioner

The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua, today received a courtesy call from the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea to the Republic of Fiji Her Excellency Jacinta Tony-Barrion on Tuesday (21.04.2026) at the Ministry’s headquarters.

During the meeting, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua congratulated H.E. Tony-Barrion on her appointment and warmly acknowledged her prior service in Fiji, noting that her experience would deepen the longstanding ties between the two nations. The Assistant Minister highlighted the strong historical, cultural, and people-to-people bonds that form the bedrock of Fiji’s relationship with Papua New Guinea.

Against the backdrop of evolving global geopolitical challenges, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua underscored the importance of Pacific solidarity and closer bilateral cooperation. She highlighted growing trade and investment ties between Fiji and PNG, including the Fiji-PNG Business Mission and the re-establishment of the Fiji-PNG Business Council, and reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to expanding these opportunities during H.E. Tony-Barrion’s tenure.

High Commissioner Tony-Barrion expressed her gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership with Fiji. She noted that the two countries share a common responsibility as Pacific neighbors to work collaboratively on regional issues, including within the framework of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and pledged her full engagement in advancing areas of mutual interest throughout her posting.

The meeting reinforced the warm and enduring friendship between Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and both parties looked forward to continued collaboration across bilateral and regional fronts.