Fiji Reaffirms Strong Partnership with France at Bastille Day Reception
16/07/2026Published On: 16/07/2026
The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Dr. Raijeli Taga, met with Deputy Secretary for Trade and Economic of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Vangelis Vitalis in New Zealand this week.
The meeting reaffirmed the Fiji and New Zealand’s enduring partnership, with discussions centred on enhancing bilateral trade and investment, deepening economic cooperation, and identifying practical opportunities to address shared regional and global challenges. Both sides also exchanged views on supply chain resilience, including fuel supply security, and underscored the importance of coordinated approaches to strengthen economic resilience across the Pacific.
The two senior officials expressed their shared commitment to fostering regional prosperity, economic resilience and stability, including through the Duavata Partnership, which Fiji and New Zealand are expected to renew this week. They acknowledged the Partnership as an important platform for advancing practical cooperation across priority areas and further strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
Dr. Taga emphasized the importance of developing practical, locally driven solutions supported by strong institutional frameworks to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth. She expressed Fiji’s appreciation for New Zealand’s longstanding partnership and continued support in advancing trade, economic development and regional cooperation, noting that trusted partnerships remain essential to achieving shared development objectives and strengthening the resilience of Pacific economies.
Mr. Vangelis conveyed New Zealand’s commitment to further deepening its trade and economic partnership with Fiji and acknowledged Fiji’s leadership in advancing regional trade initiatives. He also provided an overview of the key agenda items to be discussed at the upcoming Future of Investment and Trade Partnerships (FIT-P) Senior Officials’ Meeting and Ministerial Meeting, highlighting opportunities for closer collaboration on trade, investment and economic integration.
Both officials recognised the value of regional and plurilateral economic initiatives, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and FIT-P, as practical mechanisms for promoting resilient supply chains, facilitating investment, enhancing economic cooperation and enabling like-minded economies to exchange best practices and develop tangible, outcomes-focused solutions to common challenges. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close engagement through regular bilateral dialogue and continued technical cooperation to progress shared trade and economic priorities over the coming year.
The meeting was also attended by Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, H.E. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E. Greg Andrews, and senior officials from both the Fiji and New Zealand Governments, reflecting strong partnership between Fiji-NZ and our shared commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation.
