A delegation from the Indonesian Parliament recently visited Fiji to enhance bilateral relations, meeting with the Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. This visit followed a previous bilateral meeting during the second Indonesia-Pacific Parliamentary Partnership (IPPP) held in July in Indonesia.
The Indonesian Embassy in Suva confirmed that the delegation’s visit aimed to build upon the discussions held in Jakarta, where twelve Pacific island countries convened to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in the Pacific region.
Ratu Naiqama praised Indonesia’s effective hosting of the IPPP, which he attended as the head of the Fijian delegation. Mohammad Muraz, leading the Indonesian parliamentary group, emphasized the importance of fostering inter-parliamentary cooperation across various sectors to establish deeper relations between the two nations.
Muraz expressed his hopes for discussions on actionable steps that Fiji and Indonesia can undertake together. He highlighted the shared interests of both nations in the Pacific Ocean and expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s vision of an Ocean of Peace, which he is keen to explore further in relation to Indonesia’s role in the Pacific.
The delegation, which included Indonesia’s Ambassador to Fiji, Dupito Simamora, participated in a sit-in at Tuesday’s parliamentary session.