‘Visit shows enduring friendship’
JAPANESE Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa says his inaugural official visit demonstrates the enduring friendship shared between Fiji and Japan.
He made this statement during a meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and senior government officials in Suva last Saturday where they discussed the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Japan’s engagement with the Pacific.
He commended Mr Bainimarama for his exemplary leadership and commitment to the advancement of shared aspirations for global and regional peace and prosperity.
“Fiji is an important development partner and Japan attaches great importance to the bilateral relations with Fiji, with mutual cooperation for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Mr Yoshimasa said they would continue to work together with the Fijian Government.
In his welcoming speech, Mr Bainimarama said the two countries had reaffirmed their solidarity and unwavering support to Fiji for the advancement of regional prosperity and Fiji’s national priorities.
He said Japan continued to support Fiji’s national development priorities and scope of the partnership, which over the years, has extended to important areas including climate change, disaster risk management, and COVID-19 response efforts.
Mr Bainimarama also commended the Japanese government for its continued commitment towards the Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM-9) and Japan’s aspirations to enhance relations with Pacific Island countries through dialogue on a number of initiatives under their regional assistance program.