Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong was in Fiji for a three-day visit where she advanced talks on the proposed Vuvale Union, a special bilateral agreement between Fiji and Australia aimed at deepening co-operation on security, trade, labour mobility, education, climate action and regional development.
She also announced support for Fiji’s fuel crisis response.
Ms Wong was accompanied by Australian Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Defence Industry Pat Conroy for high-level talks with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiusa Ditoka and senior government officials.
The visit focused on progress towards the Vuvale Union, an $A$30 million ($F47m) in support to help Fiji respond to fuel price pressures and supply concerns linked to global energy disruptions.
Mr Rabuka said Fiji and Australia had also discussed regional fuel security, transnational crime and the need for co-ordinated responses through Pacific mechanisms.
Ms Wong also met Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa in Suva.
Fiji and Australia also lodged ratification documents for the Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, a step aimed at strengthening Pacific-led financing for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and community resilience.
