Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere emphasized the island nation’s significant role in regional leadership and multilateral cooperation during his address at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He affirmed that, despite being a small state, Fiji contributes meaningfully to regionalism and leadership in the Pacific.
In his speech, Ratu Wiliame outlined that Fiji’s newly released Foreign Policy White Paper centers on three interconnected themes: sovereignty, security, and prosperity. He also mentioned that Fiji’s National Development Plan aims to empower its citizens through unity, focusing on economic resilience, people’s empowerment, and good governance.
The President reaffirmed Fiji’s dedication to the principles of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, aligning with the vision of Pacific leaders for a prosperous region. As a large ocean state, Fiji advocates for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and plans to ratify the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) ahead of the upcoming UN Oceans Conference in France.
Ratu Wiliame highlighted the necessity of understanding the vast ocean space through scientific data to make informed decisions. He called for global cooperation through the UN to enact the outcomes from the COP28 Global Stocktake, urging for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to adhere to the 1.5 degrees Celsius target.
He stated that phasing out unabated coal power and moving away from fossil fuels in energy systems are crucial steps toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, he pointed out the need for substantial increases in funding for both adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Ratu Wiliame urged that the progress made on the Loss and Damage Fund and the Santiago Network at COP27 and COP28 must be expedited to protect vulnerable communities, especially in Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. He called on development partners to support Fiji’s efforts in these critical areas.