Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to Fiji and the wider Pacific region, announcing new health funding and stronger climate action, while warning that regional unity and resilience are more critical than ever.
During a visit to Suva Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the two nations are bound by a “Vuvale Partnership” rooted in respect, trust, and cooperation.
“Fiji and Australia are family. We have a Vuvale Partnership, which is about respect, trust and delivering for our people together. That means a lot to the people of Australia,” Wong said.
She stressed that Australia’s security and prosperity are tied to the region and that Canberra is committed to being a “full, respectful member of the Pacific family.”
“In an uncertain world we are counting on each other to work together to make our region even more resilient and Australia is a partner Fiji can count on. Australia is a partner the Pacific can count on,” she said.
Wong announced nearly AUD $4 million(US$2.56 million) in new funding to support Fiji’s HIV response plan and the launch of a new clinical services plan aimed at strengthening Fiji’s health system for decades to come.
“We want to work with you to prevent the spread of HIV, as well as to improve treatment and reduce harm to those who are living with the disease,” Wong said.
“As Prime Minister Rabuka has said, we are working in the spirit of Vuvale, as family to build a region where we each can decide our own destiny.”
She also highlighted Australia’s record $2.1 billion(US$1.34 billion) aid commitment to the Pacific, climate initiatives including an 82 percent renewable energy target by 2030, and support for a joint COP31 bid with Pacific nations.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite, also on the visit, highlighted the personal and national importance of Australia’s ties to Fiji and the region.
“It’s no accident that my first trip as an Assistant Foreign Minister is to Fiji and our neighbours in the Pacific. That highlights the importance of the relationship to Australians and the Australian Government of our family in the Pacific,” he said.
Thistlethwaite, who has visited Fiji previously, spoke about his passion for ocean conservation and learning from First Nations communities.
“I went diving off the coral coast, scuba diving, and I was diving on one of the most fragile reef ecosystems in the world. But I got to appreciate the enormous beauty and the fragility of our oceans.
“That was why it’s an honour for myself and the Foreign Minister to have met with the Chair of the Great Council of Chiefs… to discuss those First Nations issues and how we can work together and learn from First Nations peoples… to make better decisions.”
Both officials reiterated that climate action, health cooperation, and deepening Pacific relationships are central to Australia’s foreign policy.
