PM Modi Holds Talks With Fijian Counterpart Rabuka, Highlights Cultural Linkages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he held “productive discussions” with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening cooperation across key sectors.

Rabuka reached Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit, marking his first trip to India since taking office as the prime minister of the South Pacific nation.

The Fijian leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes health minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and several senior officials.

“Our talks focused on how to add more vigour to our developmental partnership. We discussed ways to deepen ties in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, defence, security and technology. Cultural linkages between India and Fiji are an important pillar of our relations, and we will also work to deepen these ties,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

He added that Rabuka and he also talked about how areas like sports and education can bring our nations even closer. We are also going to work together on renewable energy and climate change.

Fiji is an important nation for India in the sphere of maritime security.

The two nations have strong cultural and people-to-people ties. India’s links with Fiji began in 1879 when Indian labourers were taken to Fiji under the indenture system by the British.

Rabuka’s visit to India comes a year after President Droupadi Murmu travelled to Fiji.

Prime Minister Rabuka’s visit underscores the longstanding and enduring ties between India and Fiji, an Indian readout said on Thursday.

“It reaffirms the continued commitment of both countries to further strengthen the bilateral relationship across all sectors and deepen our close people-to-people ties,” it said.