Fiji, NZ PMs meet in London
Fiji and New Zealand have explored new opportunities to increase flows of bilateral trade and investment during a meeting between Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his New Zealand counterpart Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in London.
The prime ministers met on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM).
PM Bainimarama said there was a great deal of unrealised potential between the two countries in the arenas of trade and investment and pointed to the Fiji-NZ Business Council as an effective vehicle for greater economic exchange.
He welcomed the growth of tourism arrivals from Kiwis to Fiji last year.
In their talks, the New Zealand Head of Government pledged to take a new approach to regional co-operation, moving from simply being a donor toward becoming a more involved partner in the development of Fiji and other Pacific Island nations. PM Bainimarama thanked New Zealand for its continued assistance of Fiji and our Pacific neighbours in the immediate aftermath of tropical cyclones over the years. He said Fiji valued its relationship with New Zealand, noting the recent progress and strengthening of the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Ardern reiterated New Zealand’s support to Fiji’s COP23 presidency, acknowledging that New Zealand would need to play a bigger role in the fight against climate change. She voiced full support of restricting the average global temperature increase to within 1.5 degrees. PM Bainimarama briefed Prime Minister Ardern on Fiji’s preparations for the 2018 General Elections and thanked New Zealand for its continued assistance and support in patrolling Fiji’s exclusive economic zone over the past 18 months.