Japan: Fiji – Japan Strengthen Diplomatic Ties

The Fiji Mission in Japan is working proactively to enhance Fiji’s bilateral relations with Japan. In light with this objective the Ambassador for Fiji’s Mission in Tokyo, His Excellency Mr. Isikeli Mataitoga recently had a meeting with Honourable Fukushiro Nukaga MP, Chairman of the Japan-Fiji Parliamentary Friendship League (JFPFL), in the Japanese Parliament.

The purpose of the meeting was to update Hon. Nukaga on current bilateral relations between Fiji and Japan, and to further seek his support in enhancing collaboration with the Japanese Government.

Hon. Nukaga welcomed Ambassador Mataitoga and emphasized how important the Ambassador`s call is in deepening the relationship between Japan and Fiji. He also congratulated Prime Minister Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, for his re-election as the Prime Minister of Fiji and for the successful completion of the 2018 General Elections.

Ambassador Mataitoga expressed his appreciation to the Hon. Nukaga as Chairman and the members of Japan/Fiji Parliamentary Friendship League for their continued support and assistance towards Fiji and the work of the Fiji Embassy in Tokyo. Their support in the past few years has contributed directly to deepening relations between Fiji and Japan.

Hon. Nukaga thanked the Fijian Government for its continued support to Japan’s Candidature for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Kansai and the Candidature for the WHO Western Pacific top post. He further indicated that his office is aware of discussions to host the PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting in one of the Pacific Islands and that he would continue to explore ways, and assist the Embassy, to strengthen Fiji’s offer to host this important meeting.

On people-to-people exchanges, Ambassador Mataitoga informed of the increasing importance of rugby and the exchanges that have been undertaken thus far in various Japanese prefectures and cities. He further extended the request to explore Fijian workers training and skills upgrading in Japan in the areas of farming, construction, and tourism.

Both the diplomats discussed briefly the fact that 2020 will mark 50th Anniversary of Fiji-Japan Formal Diplomatic Relations, it’s an opportunity to further strengthen the socioeconomic collaborations between the two countries.

Brief information regarding the Ministry of Agriculture [MOA] and Private sector Visit Program 2019 to Tokyo, Chiba and Okinawa in Japan, in the field of agriculture and agricultural technologies were also discussed.

The visit is expected to boost trade, and significantly enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, to which the Chairman advised that he is very well informed of Okinawa and would assist should the Embassy require further advice. The detail of the program is currently being finalized.