The Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, has left Fiji as the head of the first ever official Fijian Government delegation to visit the Russian Federation.
The visit -which begins later this week – will see the Prime Minister hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, at his official residence outside Moscow.
While the Prime Minister meets senior Russian officials, other members of the Fijian delegation will hold side meetings designed to foster relations in the areas of trade, education and other areas of cooperation.
The Government says the meetings underline Fiji’s robust foreign policy, which is aligned with other Pacific island nations and seeks new opportunities beyond its traditional regional partners.
The visit – it says – also demonstrates the expanding relationship between Fiji and Russia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974 and especially since an exchange of ambassadors in 2010. Fiji’s resident Ambassador to Japan, Isikeli Mataitoga, is accredited to the Russian Federation as Fiji’s non-resident Ambassador.
The relationship has also strengthened since the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited Fiji in February 2012.
Following the Prime Minister’s official visit, Fiji’s Defence Minister, Joketani Cokanasiga, and two senior officials will attend the International Maritime Defence Show 2013 to be held in St Petersburg from July 3rd to July 7th.
MINFO