Newly appointed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrives into the country today. In a statement issued yesterday, she said her trip to Fiji was to “strengthen our Vuvale partnership and to discuss how we can best secure our region and help build a stronger Pacific family”.
“The visit, in my first week as Foreign Minister, demonstrates the importance we place on our relationship with Fiji and on our Pacific engagement,” Ms Wong said.
“Australia will listen to our Pacific partners as we work together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals – including tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security.”
During her visit, Ms Wong will meet Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as well as other senior ministers and Fijian women leaders, ahead of next month’s Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting. She will also meet Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Henry Puna, and deliver a speech at the Forum Secretariat on the new energy and commitments Australia is making.
“These commitments include taking real action on climate change at home and with our region, as well as increased development assistance and security cooperation, and reforming and expanding our Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.”
