President Prabowo and Prime Minister Rabuka hold a tête-à-tête meeting to discuss a range of strategic issues of mutual interests at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (04/24) (Photo: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)
Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, expressed his appreciation for Indonesia’s strong commitment to maintaining consistent diplomatic relations based on mutual respect for the sovereignty of Fiji. PM Rabuka made this statement during a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and delegations from both countries at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (04/24).
“You have been a very steady friend, a steady diplomatic friend, a steady cooperation friend, since we established diplomatic relationship in 1974,” stated PM Rabuka.
In particular, PM Rabuka conveyed his gratitude for Indonesia’s tangible support, notably the development of the Regional Agricultural Training Centre in Rakiraki, Fiji. “We thank you and your government most sincerely for that,” he remarked.
PM Rabuka further noted that Fiji regards Indonesia as a successful example of transformation from a humble rural farming communities into one of the powerhouses in the world of economy nowadays. He also welcomed the potential for enhanced cooperation in the fields of defense and security, including training opportunities for Fiji’s military and police personnel.
“We recently commissioned a training center dedicated for military peacekeeping and disaster relief work for our military personnel and police personnel. And it is now open to the region, and with your expertise and experiences, it would be a very welcome addition to the expertise offered by the Blackrock Training Camp,” he explained.
In addition to agriculture and defense, PM Rabuka acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Indonesian Government and expressed hope that the cooperation with Indonesia would expand to other sectors, including health, research, and education.
“We appreciate your contributions very much. We also look forward to strengthening our cooperation in the areas of medicine, research, and also education. We thank you for what you have done in the past for us,” said PM Rabuka. (BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat) (AY/TM)
