PS Karan Receives Courtesy Call from Sweden’s New Ambassador to Fiji

Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs, Yogesh Karan received a courtesy call from the Non-Resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Fiji, His Excellency Bertil Henrik Cederin, at the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

PS Karan congratulated Ambassador Cederin on his new appointment and expressed confidence that the engagement levels between the two nations would advance in shared priorities.

He said Fiji is also grateful for Sweden’s contribution to the COVAX facility, an initiative that enabled Fiji to access lifesaving vaccines and ultimately reopen international borders.

The ongoing collaboration between Fiji-Sweden, supported through the European Union (EU) in areas of climate change, trade, agriculture governance, peace and security, human rights and UN peacekeeping, was also acknowledged.

Perspectives were outlined on the potential partnerships for building our people-to-people links, with opportunities for capacity building and other areas of cooperation for the benefit of both countries.

Mr Karan mentioned that both the countries’ common position on the Ocean Pathway Partnership, launched at the COP 23 climate conference, underpins the significant connection between a healthy ocean and climate change, and gained momentum with the recognition of oceans in the UNFCCC work programme.

He highlighted that the Palau Oceans Conference to be held in April will be a good opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved thus far, ahead of the 2nd Oceans Conference in June, to be co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya.

Reflections were also made on Fiji co-hosting the first UN Oceans Conference with Sweden in 2017, the first gathering of all Oceans stakeholders on a global platform to commit specific actions for the robust implementation of SDG14 on Oceans.

Mr Karan conveyed the Fijian Government’s well wishes to Ambassador Cederin on his new assignment and assured him of Fiji’s continued support. In response, Ambassador Cederin said Sweden through its Embassy in Canberra looks forward to working closely with the Fijian Government to deepen partnership on climate, oceans and sustainable development.

“There are a number of ways our program reaches out to ordinary Fijians and we are very proud of that. We will continue with our support to Fiji and the region. Sweden is engaged with Fiji bilaterally through a regional program based at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok. We cooperate with the EU delegation on the Pacific EU Maritime partnership program.”

Ambassador Cederin congratulated the Fijian Government and the people of Fiji for their collaborative efforts and swift actions to rollout the vaccination program, thereby reviving the tourism industry and trade and investment.

“I commend the Fijian Government for its strong leadership in paving a way forward for the economic recovery and for being one of the highest vaccinated nations in the world. In recognition of Fiji’s progress made, Sweden is determined to expand economic cooperation with Fiji and we are keen to explore greater levels of partnership in trade and investments, development of Fiji’s private sector.

“We will increase engagements through further discussions with the Fijian Government on achieving tangible outcomes in this important area of cooperation.”

Ambassador Cederin thanked Fiji for its strong stand and unwavering support at the recent UN General Assembly resolution on Ukraine.

“We are proud that Fiji has been supportive and active in the discussions on this issue and we look forward to working closely on this matter. This is a testimony to strong solidarity and respect for the global rules-based order,” he said.