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07/12/2024Published On: 07/12/2024
The non- resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Fiji His Excellency Viktor Vavricka, based in New Zealand, paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala, at the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Suva, earlier this week.
Switzerland’s Special Envoy for the Pacific region, Her Excellency Barbara Gonzenbach also attended the meeting, which provided a significant opportunity to explore new avenues for both #bilateral and #multilateral engagements between #Switzerland and #Fiji.
Discussions were centered on key mutual interest, including economic growth, climate resilience, multilateralism, international law, and regional cooperation, aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
In welcoming the Ambassador and the Special Envoy, Dr Korovavala reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to deepening its relations with Switzerland , stating that the Ministry will work closely with Swiss Mission in New Zealand to further the collaboration.
He highlighted the key objectives of Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper with the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s concept of the Pacific as the “Oceans of Peace”.
Ambassador Vavricka, in response, thanked PS Korovavala for the productive discussions and congratulated the Ministry for developing Fiji’s first Foreign Policy White Paper and also expressed Switzerland’s unwavering support to Fiji’s leadership on the “Oceans of Peace” Concept.
Both parties agreed that continued dialogue is vital in addressing the common challenges and in creating opportunities to promoting economic growth , prosperity, regional peace and stability.
The meeting forms part of the Swiss delegation’s broader engagements with key stakeholders during their visit to Fiji this week.
