The development cooperation between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and #Fiji will continue to grow notably in the areas of climate change, disaster risk resilience, economic diversifications, oceans governance and people to people exchanges. The Ministers expressed sincere appreciation to the ROK Government for successfully hosting the 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and agreed to expand the scope of future dialogue to reflect the Pacific Islands Forum membership and further affirmed their will to work closely together to ensure the success of the 1st Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in 2023. This was evident at a meeting held between Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan and Korea, Mr. Filimone Waqabaca and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs His Excellency Choi Youngsam yesterday (27/10/22).
The discussions took place at the margins of the 5th Korea- Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ROK-PICs FMM) held in Busan with the theme, “Shared Vision for the Blue Pacific: Freedom, Peace and Prosperity.”
The #Fijian delegation at the 5th Korea and Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers Meeting was led by Ambassador Waqabaca. The discussions with the Korean Deputy Minister also highlighted prospects for partnership in areas of labour mobility, trade and investment, tourism, capacity building trainings, people to people exchanges through the World Friends Korea initiative. The 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers Meeting concluded on a high note with a joint outcomes statement which affirms the Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands partnership to expand the scale of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and advance the shared priorities of resilient economic development and build a sustainable future for the Pacific. He congratulated the Government of Korea for successful convening of the meeting which, reaffirms the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea to align their focus in the region to the priorities outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Enhancing connectivity through considerations for resumption of direct flights between Seoul and Nadi to revitalize economic exchanges and people-to-people networks was also outlined at the meeting.
Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Mr Choi Youngsam thanked Ambassador Waqabaca for the discussions they had on further strengthening the relations of the two nations.
