Elevating Our Relations To A New Height
Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste and Konnichiwa (hello). I have freshly begun my term in Fiji arriving here in December 2023. By presenting the Credentials to H.E. Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, President of the Republic of Fiji, on 25th January, my mission here started as the new Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Fiji. It is my great pleasure and honour to be able to serve Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), which are blessed with beautiful nature, gifted and friendly people, the pristine ocean and land with great potentials. Ever since Japan and Fiji established diplomatic relations in 1970, the year of Fiji’s independence, we have jointly continued to foster and strengthen our growing relations. I look forward to closely working with the Government and people of Fiji in addressing priority areas such as climate change, sea level rise, environment, disaster management and contributing meaningfully to the wider sustainable development of Fiji.
This year, 2024, will be a milestone for relations between Fiji, the PICs and Japan. On 12th February, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, visited Suva and co-chaired the 5th PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting (MIM) with Foreign Minister of the Cook Islands, Hon. Elikana, as the Cook Islands is the current Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). During the meeting, the PIF members and Japan discussed the latest policy developments and challenges in the current international scene, followed up on the progress since PALM9 in 2021 and looked ahead to PALM 10 summit meeting, which will be held in July 2024.
Towards PALM10, Fiji, the PICs and Japan will strengthen collective efforts in tackling with regional and global challenges in accordance with the 2050 Strategy, including climate change and natural disasters, protection of oceans and environment, business and economic development, technology, and connectivity cooperation, and people to people exchanges.
Japan will be supporting Fiji’s nation building. Japanese Foreign Minister Ms. Kamikawa also had an intensive discussion with then Acting Prime Minister Kamikamica. On top of previous assistances such as establishing the Japan-Pacific ICT Center with Multi-Purpose Theater as well as Institute of Marine Resources at USP Laucala Campus, Japan will also build the new ‘Tamavua-i-wai’ bridge, connecting Suva City to Lami. As island nations are facing the brunt of climate change, we are also concerned on its devastating effects in Fiji and the PICs. Therefore, after the construction of the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) Center in Nadi (1996), we have further developed a wide-area disaster management system, rehabilitated the medium wave radio transmission (2015), provided tsunami early warning systems (2020), and formalized a disaster recovery standby loan (2020, worth 74.5 million FJD). We will continue technical cooperation in capacity building for the FMS (ongoing from 2021), support for the training and development of meteorological services personnel (ongoing from 2001), and carry on with Basic Design for the Meteorological and Disaster Awareness Regional Centre for the Pacific (ongoing from 2023).
We place significant importance on people to people exchanges. We are delighted to welcome Fijian students to Japan through MEXT scholarships and JENESYS programs and wish to further promote two way youth exchanges between Fiji and Japan.
Fiji and Japan, as members of the uniquely special Pacific family of island nations and important partners in the international community, share common values such as freedom, democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and the environment, and we look forward to further deepening our collaboration.
It is my privilege to reaffirm that Japan will continue its support for the sustainable development of Fiji in the years to come and stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Fiji on the common values shared by both countries.