Fiji and New Zealand are set to enhance their longstanding Duavata Partnership following a recent high-level consultation aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. During this meeting, Dr. Raijeli Taga, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the partnership’s potential to maximize shared priorities, focusing on prosperity, peace, security, resilience, and sustainability across the Blue Pacific region and beyond.
New Zealand’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, echoed these sentiments, confirming that both nations share multiple priorities, including boosting economic prosperity, fostering social well-being, promoting democratic governance, and addressing the urgent issue of climate change. This collaborative effort reflects ongoing discussions as both countries work together to improve their capacities to respond to natural disasters and other regional challenges.
In previous meetings, including those between Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, similar themes have emerged. They have highlighted the importance of increasing bilateral trade, aiming to escalate it to $2 billion by 2030, while also addressing key security issues such as defense cooperation and drug trafficking. Additionally, discussions have included simplification of visa processes for Fijians, aimed at promoting stronger people-to-people connections.
As Fiji and New Zealand develop this refreshed Duavata Partnership throughout the year, it offers a hopeful outlook for both nations. Their commitment to deepening collaborations fosters a stronger network of regional solidarity, enhancing prospects for sustainable growth and resilience amidst global uncertainties. This proactive approach not only strengthens ties between the two nations but also contributes positively to stability and prosperity in the wider Pacific community.
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