Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka received a courtesy call from Her Royal Highness (HRH) Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Suva.
The Crown Princess was accompanied by the UN Under-Secretary-General and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem and Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Mr. Dan Jørgensen.
Prime Minister Rabuka welcomed and thanked Her Royal Highness for her first visit to our shores which demonstrates Denmark’s unwavering support for Fiji and the Pacific region.
He said this timely visit will advance our friendly relations and cooperation with Denmark on issues of importance such as climate actions, sustainable development and inclusivity.
At the same time, the Prime Minister acknowledged Crown Princess Mary for her commitment in advocating for health, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The Head of the Coalition Government also thanked Dr. Kanem for her first mission to Fiji to strengthen the UNFPA’s partnership in building an inclusive and gender-responsive approaches across all sectors.
Today’s meeting outlined the prospects for new partnerships in shared priorities such as climate actions, economic prosperity and empowerment of women, children, youths and society as a whole.
During the meeting, Crown Princess Mary thanked Prime Minister Rabuka and the people of Fiji for the kind hospitality accorded to her.
She commended the Fiji Government’s commitment towards inclusivity and sustainable development.
She also reaffirmed Denmark’s support to enhance the close and friendly relations between the two nations.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr Kanem said that UNFPA has been working in Fiji for 30 years, supporting national and regional efforts to protect and defend the rights of women, girls and young people so that they, their families and communities thrive.
“UNFPA greatly appreciates the steadfast partnership with and leadership of the new Government of Fiji and people of Fiji.
“UNFPA looks forward to working together to expand access to family planning, end preventable maternal deaths, and eliminate all forms of gender-based violence in Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries,” Dr Kanem said.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Minister Mr Jørgensen stressed on the importance of their visit to Fiji.
“We look forward to strengthen ties with Fiji and develop new partnerships to tackle the consequences of the climate crisis.
“For the people of Fiji, climate change is not something that will happen in the future.
“It is something that everyone is experiencing right now. Extreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently, which especially affects vulnerable groups.
“Sea levels are rising, destroying basic living conditions such as farmlands, drinking water and housing. Denmark is dedicated to the fight against climate change,” Minister Jørgensen said.
Today’s discussions coincided with a bilateral meeting held between Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Mr. Dan Jørgensen and Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka.
Fiji looks forward to the new development initiatives to be pursued through the Crown Princess Mary’s historic visit to Fiji.
During the final day of her visit tomorrow, the Crown Princess will visit the Blackrock Camp in Nadi before departing to Australia.
