New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Minister Honourable Carmel Sepuloni was accorded a traditional welcoming ceremony, this afternoon at GPH in Suva.
The ceremony was attended by cabinet ministers and members of diplomatic corps in Fiji.
Hon. Sepuloni thanked the Fiji Government for the warm hospitality and kind gesture accorded to her upon arrival in Fiji.
She reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to further advance partnership between the two nations.
Hon. Sepuloni is leading a Pacific Mission to Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga – the first to be undertaken since COVID-19.
“The Pacific region remains our Government’s foreign policy priority, and that includes continuing to strengthen Aotearoa New Zealand’s relationship with our Pacific whānau,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
“The Pacific Mission provides us with an invaluable opportunity to strengthen our relationships even further, and reaffirm our commitment to working alongside our Pacific whānau to respond to challenges together,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
Carmel Sepuloni is accompanied by Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw and a delegation including Parliamentary and NGO representatives, business and community leaders and Pacific youth.
“Aotearoa New Zealand is in and of the Pacific. What happens within the Pacific region impacts New Zealanders here at home,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
During her visit to Fiji, Hon. Sepuloni will undertake important deliberations which will further build the Fiji-NZ collaborations.
