FELIX LESINAIVALU
During the four-day official visit to Fiji, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern made time to plant a tree at the State House grounds during her courtesy call with the President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote.
On the second day of her visit, President Konrote received the courtesy call from Prime Minister Ardern at the State House for talks before exchanging gifts.
Prime Minister Ardern and President Konrote then proceeded to plant a fan palm tree at the State House Grounds. Before proceeding to her next stop at the National War Memo-rial Site in Veiuto, Prime Minister Ardern signed the visitor’s book at State House.
After bilateral talks with the Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister Ardern was then hosted to a state dinner by the Fijian Government where she shared how the Fiji-New Zealand relationship is warmer, stronger and more productive than it has ever been.
“We are friends and natural partners. We have a relationship based on mutual respect and shared values. Any yet, we can go further.”
“We are committed to working with you to ensure that our strong ties endure another fifty years; to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation; and to make sure that the Pacific, our Pacific, is prosperous, stable and resilient.”
Prime Minister Ardern added New Zealand and Fiji have a shared interest in addressing the environmental challenges that our countries and region face.
“Both our nations take our responsibilities as kaitiakitanga, or guardians, of our lands, resources and oceans, seriously.”
Prime Minister Ardern was farewelled at the Nausori Airport by Prime Minister Bainimarama then departed for Nadi where she visited a Mosque to pay respects to Fijians who lost their lives in the Christchurch terror attacks, at the Lautoka Mosque and opening the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center in Nadi branch.