Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence first official visit to Fiji – reaffirms the Vuvale partnership

The Fijian Government welcomes the official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles MP to Fiji from the 20th to the 21st of October 2022. This visit signifies the enduring partnership and strong friendship between Fiji and Australia. During his visit to Fiji, the Deputy Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama. He will also meet Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Minister of Defence, National Security and Policing, Inia Seruiratu.Signed in 2019, the Vuvale Partnership is based on 5 pillars which is to strengthen people-to-people links, enhance security cooperation, deepen economic relationship, build support on international and regional issues, and foster closer institutional linkages.The Deputy Prime Minister earlier visited Tonga for the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
“Our region is increasingly facing both traditional and non-traditional threats to our shared security.”
“The Pacific family is stronger when we respond together, by enhancing coordination, sharing information and improving interoperability between our countries and our defence forces.”He looks forward to visiting Fiji and meeting senior Government officials and advance issues of importance to the Pacific family.On the Fiji-Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister said Australia and Fiji’s defence relationship is enduring and strong – highlighted by the success of joint exercises, co-deployments, and shared infrastructure projects like the Blackrock Camp.Through the Vuvale Partnership, Fiji and Australia have strengthened engagements in a wide range of areas including health, education, tourism, trade and investment, labour mobility, sports, defence, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.While in Fiji, the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the Fiji-Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting and visit the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi.

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