Affirming the "learning" trip, sending a message of reassurance to the Pacific region

On August 12, Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka began his first official visit to China as Prime Minister of Fiji.

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. (Source: Reuters)

In an interview with ABC radio, the Fijian Prime Minister said he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during his visit from August 12-21.

He said he would learn from China’s experiences in agricultural and fisheries programs. At the same time, he reassured: “There should be no fear that my visit to China will upset the economic, military and security stability in the Pacific region.”

Taking power as prime minister in 2022, Mr Rabuka has proposed an "Ocean of Peace" foreign policy to Pacific leaders, which calls for cooperation with all major powers and avoiding militarisation of islands in the region.

Fiji is one of the few Pacific island nations with a military. It signed a police cooperation agreement with China a decade ago under the previous government.

After taking power in June, Prime Minister Rabuka ended the presence of Chinese police in Fiji's forces and announced a "reconstruction of the police force" with greater support from Australia.

Meeting with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November 2023, Prime Minister Rabuka told Parliament that Fiji was open to partnering with China on a major port modernization and shipbuilding project.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-fiji-tham-trung-quoc-khang-dinh-chuyen-di-hoc-hoi-nhan-nhu-loi-tran-an-khu-vuc-thai-binh-duong-282301.html