Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka held a meeting today with His Excellency Ard van der Vorst, the non-resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Fiji. The discussion centered around mutual interests and reaffirmed the longstanding diplomatic relations established between the two nations since 1972.
The two countries have collaborated in various fields, including climate change, peacekeeping, and sustainable development, particularly through agencies such as the United Nations. During their dialogue, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed gratitude for the Netherlands’ support through European Union-backed initiatives aimed at education, agriculture, fisheries, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience. He underlined the value of their cooperative efforts, particularly in enhancing international peacekeeping missions that reflect shared values of global stability.
Rabuka took the opportunity to inform Ambassador van der Vorst about Fiji’s “Ocean of Peace” initiative, which aims to designate the Pacific as a zone of peace, emphasizing shared responsibilities in addressing global challenges like security and climate change. He highlighted a growing trend of Fijian students pursuing higher education in the Netherlands, which he saw as a vital means to strengthen people-to-people connections. He also stressed the opportunities available for increased trade, investment, and private sector collaboration between the two nations.
Ambassador van der Vorst reciprocated the Prime Minister’s sentiments and reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to work closely with Fiji and other Pacific nations. Their discussion concluded with a mutual agreement to deepen both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, signifying a positive trajectory for future collaborations.
This engagement underscores an optimistic outlook for both countries as they continue building on their diplomatic ties and addressing shared international issues collaboratively. The ongoing relationship between Fiji and the Netherlands exemplifies the power of partnership in navigating contemporary global challenges.
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