Fiji and the Republic of Philippines Strengthen Bilateral Relations

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka, received a courtesy call from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Philippines to Fiji, His Excellency Noel M. Novicio on Thursday (07.06.2026) at the Ministry’s headquarters in Suva.

In his remarks, Hon. Ditoka warmly welcomed Ambassador Novicio and highlighted the strong and enduring diplomatic ties between Fiji and the Philippines. He noted that the establishment of the Philippines’ diplomatic presence in Fiji reflects a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding cooperation across the Pacific, and advancing collaboration on regional and global priorities. He expressed confidence that this development will create new opportunities for practical cooperation and deeper engagement between the two countries.

Hon. Ditoka also acknowledged the longstanding contributions of the Filipino community in Fiji, particularly in the healthcare sector, where their presence since the 1970’s has significantly supported national development.

Discussions during the meeting focused on key areas of cooperation, including labour mobility, trade and investment, agriculture and aquaculture development, disaster risk management, and strategic regional engagement.

Fiji expressed interest in learning from the Philippines’ expertise in labour mobility programmes, including opportunities in the construction and maritime sectors, as well as cooperation in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and capacity-building initiatives.

Hon. Ditoka also highlighted Fiji’s interest in strengthening engagement with ASEAN and welcomed opportunities for collaboration and technical linkages through the Philippines, including possible cooperation with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) in Jakarta, particularly in the areas of disaster response coordination, resilience-building, and humanitarian preparedness.

Further, Hon. Ditoka stated that Fiji, alongside Tuvalu, will host the Pre-COP 31 meeting in October. He emphasized that this will provide an important platform to amplify Pacific perspectives in global climate discussions and expressed Fiji’s expectations of continued support from the Philippines in advancing shared regional interests and Indo-Pacific cooperation.

Hon. Ditoka reaffirmed Fiji’s appreciation for its partnership with the Philippines in multilateral forums and underscored both countries’ shared commitment to a rules-based international order, international law, multilateralism, and the strengthening of global governance institutions.

Discussions during the meeting focused on key areas of cooperation, including labour mobility, trade, agriculture and aquaculture, disaster risk management, and strategic regional engagement.

Ambassador Novicio expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening ties with Fiji. He also conveyed his country’s intention to expand engagement across the Pacific, particularly in areas supporting sustainable development, economic growth, and resilience.