Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka’s State Visit to Tarawa Kiribati January 20th, 2023

• The purpose of the visit to Kiribati was to meet with the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau and find an amicable resolution to the political impasse that had resulted in Kiribati withdrawing their membership from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

• This was the first international visit for the Hon. Prime Minister since assuming office in December 2022 and was viewed by many within and outside the region as the Hon. Prime Minister’s commitment to the Pacific family and towards regionalism.

Outcomes for the visit:

• strengthened bilateral relations between Fiji and Kiribati working with sectorial agencies on issues raised in bilateral meetings;
• performance of the traditional boka ceremony to affirm Fiji’s commitment to kinship and solidarity;
•  renewed and reaffirmed our cultural ties between the people of Kiribati and Fiji as well as with the Kiribati descendants that live in Rabi; and
•  Kiribati agreeing to re-join the Pacific Islands Forum.