Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has stated that Fiji’s Foreign Policy Water Paper represents a comprehensive approach that encompasses all aspects of both domestic and international policy.
While addressing Parliament, Rabuka emphasized that the policy acknowledges that the nation’s security and prosperity hinge on a clear understanding of national interests and values and the best ways to promote them.
He elaborated that the policy outlines Fiji’s self-perception and how it aspires to present itself globally. One of its key initiatives includes the promotion of the Ocean of Peace, which is regarded as Fiji’s most significant contribution to peace and security in the region and the wider Indo-Pacific area.
Rabuka noted that the White Paper articulates Fiji’s identity and values, defining who the nation is and what it stands for.
He mentioned that the document details the Government’s approach to carrying out Fiji’s foreign policy, along with the necessary systems and resources to facilitate a coordinated government effort.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister pointed out that the White Paper is incorporated in Chapter 3 of Fiji’s National Development Plan and serves as a proposed response to the ongoing National Security and Defence Review.
Rabuka stressed that these components form the backbone of the Government’s strategy to promote Fiji’s strategic and economic interests while enhancing social cohesion within the country.