Fiji Reaffirms Bilateral Relations with The Republic of Turkiye

The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, received a courtesy call visit from the new Non- Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Fiji, His Excellency Melih Karalar, at the Ministry headquarters on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

Fiji and Türkiye have an enduring partnership marked by 51 years of diplomatic relations, which were established in 1975. The valued partnership is underpinned by respect for sovereignty, mutual respect and common development.

The courtesy call provided an opportunity for both countries to engage in constructive dialogue on areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, development cooperation and the strengthening of diplomatic relations. The discussions also touched on opportunities for enhanced bilateral engagement across key sectors.

In her remarks, Hon. Qereqeretabua formally welcomed Ambassador Karalar and congratulated him on his new appointment and reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to further strengthening diplomatic ties with Türkiye.

Hon. Qereqeretabua noted Türkiye’s support to Fiji through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency particularly in key development sectors such as renewable energy and infrastructure, improving electricity access for rural communities and health and disaster relief.

H.E. Karalar, reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening its bilateral relationship with Fiji and expressed keen interest in exploring new avenues of collaboration, particularly in the areas of trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Karalar also emphasized ongoing collaboration in sustainable environmental practices, including a “zero waste” partnership aimed at strengthening waste management initiatives in Fiji.

The courtesy call meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new avenues for cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The courtesy call reflects the ongoing efforts of the Fiji Government to strengthen its international partnerships and advance Fiji’s foreign policy objectives through active diplomatic engagements.