Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama received a courtesy call from the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr Akihiko Tanaka, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji MFA) headquarters in Suva yesterday (17/10/22).
Prime Minister Bainimarama congratulated Dr Tanaka on his new appointment and with assurances of the Fijian Government’s commitment to further deepen Fiji and Japan’s cooperation through JICA initiatives and programs.
He said Japan is an important development partner for Fiji and the Fijian Government is forever grateful to the Government of Japan for its tremendous assistance, including the crucial support and contributions of JICA towards Fiji’s development aspirations.
The Prime Minister commended the enduring partnership of the two nations in their collective efforts to build back better and stronger through the global challenges of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan has supported Fiji during our time of need, particularly in stimulating economic recovery post-pandemic, promoting investment, trade, and tourism, and building disaster risk resilience, amongst others.
On Fiji- JICA cooperation, Prime Minister Bainimarama acknowledged the Government of Japan for their support in important developments such as (i) infrastructure projects including the Nadi River Widening Project and Tamavua-i-wai Bridge (ii) JICA’s Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) in vital sectors health, agriculture, education, information services, forestry, and fisheries. (iii) Disaster Recovery-Rehabilitation, and Technical assistance in Disaster Risk Reduction programs.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the partnership between Fiji and Japan would continue to reach greater heights in the future; Fiji looks forward to Japan’s further support in areas of innovation and technological advancement to provide unified connectivity to schools throughout Fiji.
JICA’s role in strengthening the Pacific Islands Leaders' Meeting (PALM) partnership and JICA's approach to the Pacific Islands Countries (PICs), outlined in the PALM9 five (5) Priority Areas, all Japan Initiatives under the "Pacific Bond (KIZUNA) Policy; Technology and know-how in line with the Pacific Islands Countries' development priorities, was highlighted at the meeting.
In his capacity as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair, the Prime Minister said Fiji looks to JICA to support the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” which is now the foundation document for the Pacific’s regional development, including partnerships for regional development.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister also welcomed the recent announcement by the Government of Japan on lifting the restrictions on new entries of foreign nationals effective 11 October 2022; which will further support the trade and tourism industries.
In response, Dr Tanaka thanked Prime Minister Bainimarama for the opportunity to meet in person and the discussions they had would enhance the cooperation between Fiji and Japan.
The JICA president showed his sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Bainimarama for the recent diplomatic achievements, acknowledged his strong leadership at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 77 meetings, and congratulated the Honourable Prime Minister for his unwavering commitment at the PIF Forum in reaching consensus with the Pacific Island States.
He also praised the Fijian Government’s impressive efforts to revitalize the Fijian economy and the high economic growth prospects for Fiji.
The diplomatic relations established between Fiji and Japan in 1970, are reinforced through our mutual respect for national sovereignty, shared prosperity, and common interests in the region and beyond. The relationship was strengthened by a recent visit to Fiji by the Japanese Foreign Minister Honourable Yoshimasa Hayashi in May this year, following the historic visit of former Japanese Foreign Minister, Honourable Taro Kono in 2019, which marked the first visit to Fiji by a Japanese Foreign Minister in over 32 years.