Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shakes hands with NZ Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters ahead of their bilateral meeting in Suva on 15 December 2023. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says they are stepping up their cooperation with Fiji to address growing regional challenges.
Peters had dinner with Fiji prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka overnight in Nadi where he stopped over enroute to Vanuatu this morning.
It is the final destination for Mr Peters' cross-party delegation who have also visited Tonga and Hawaii in the Pacific over the past few days.
"New Zealand and Fiji share an indispensable partnership in the Pacific," Peters said after meeting Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi on Tuesday night.
"In these uncertain times, the Fiji-New Zealand relationship must deliver for our peoples and the region."
Peters said the two nations are working to grow two-way trade to $2 billion by 2030, and welcomed New Zealand's recent move to make travel easier and cheaper for Fijians.
"As small, export-dependent countries facing economic headwinds, we focused on our regional and international connections and delivering the best possible outcomes for the Fijian and New Zealand people," he said.
Security cooperation and the United States' role in the Pacific were also key topics, following Peters' visit to Hawaii earlier this week.
"During our visit to Honolulu, we were reminded of the United States' significant investment in regional and global security," Peters said.
"We continued this focus with Prime Minister Rabuka and we welcome our close cooperation with Fiji on a myriad of security issues, including defence cooperation, drug trafficking and people smuggling."
The pair also discussed ways to deepen economic development and align with like-minded partners ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands in September.
Peters and his delegation arrive in Port Vila later today where he will meet with prime minister Jotham Napat and visit infrastructure development projects in the country still recovering from the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the capital in December last year.
They will return home tomorrow.
