Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Prof. Biman Prasad expressed Fiji’s gratitude to the Australian Government for its longstanding assistance.
During a bilateral meeting with Australia’s Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Dr Jim Chalmers (MP), at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva this morning, Prof. Prasad acknowledged Australia’s vital role in supporting Fiji.
Prof. Prasad highlighted how this support has bolstered Fiji’s bilateral ties, particularly in areas such as health, education, emergency preparedness, public finance management, and service delivery.
“The Coalition Government welcomes Australia’s responsiveness to Fiji’s needs which has helped and contributed to the well-being and resilience of the people of Fiji.”
Australia’s ongoing support has strengthened the Vuvale Partnership which encompasses five key pillars: people-to-people links, economic relations, security cooperation, collaboration on international and regional issues, and a commitment to sustainable human development.
This is the the first time an Australian Treasurer has travelled to the Pacific to attend this forum in almost two decades.
Dr Chalmers said in a statement:
“The Government is committed to supporting a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific, which is also critical for our prosperity here at home. This is an important opportunity to confer with our Pacific partners on the big challenges and opportunities for our region in the defining decade ahead.”
Dr Chalmers will conduct a series of meetings with Pacific counterparts to strengthen economic and bilateral relations in the region. He will also meet Samoa’s Finance Minister Lautimuia Uelese Va’ai, Tonga’s Minister for Finance Tiofilusi Tiueti and Tuvalu’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Panapasi Nelesone.
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