Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
09/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2024 17:31
FIJI AND LATVIA STRENGTHEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
New York, [23.9.24] - The President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Latvia, His Excellency Edgars Rinkēvič on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Latvia is a key EU member, who like Germany, France and Spain is also interested to strengthen its relations with Fiji. This includes cooperation for education opportunities and other technical cooperation opportunities within its expertise which augurs well with Fijis NDP as recently launched. Climate and disaster risk is also their priority.
President Katonivere expressed his gratitude to President Rinkēvičs for the opportunity to meet and reaffirmed Fiji's commitment to enhancing its bilateral ties. He emphasised the importance of strengthening Fiji's relations with Latvia, in addition to the strong partnership Fiji enjoys with the European Union (EU).
Highlighting 15 years of diplomatic relations between Fiji and Latvia, President Katonivere discussed Fiji's interest in expanding collaboration, particularly in areas where Latvia has demonstrated leadership, including renewable energy, green initiatives, science, research, information technology, and digitalisation.
President Katonivere also underscored the existential threat climate change poses to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific region.
He reiterated Fiji's commitment to accelerating climate action and maintaining the global target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In response, President Rinkēvičs expressed his appreciation for the meeting and affirmed Latvia's willingness to further deepen cooperation with Fiji in these key areas including the upcoming UNFCC COP29 in Azerbaijan and the Third Oceans Conference in France in November.
Latvia is a key EU member, who like Germany, France and Spain is also interested to strengthen its relations with Fiji. This includes cooperation for education opportunities and other technical cooperation opportunities within its expertise which augurs well with Fijis NDP as recently launched. Climate and disaster risk is also their priority.
President Katonivere expressed his gratitude to President Rinkēvičs for the opportunity to meet and reaffirmed Fiji's commitment to enhancing its bilateral ties. He emphasised the importance of strengthening Fiji's relations with Latvia, in addition to the strong partnership Fiji enjoys with the European Union (EU).
Highlighting 15 years of diplomatic relations between Fiji and Latvia, President Katonivere discussed Fiji's interest in expanding collaboration, particularly in areas where Latvia has demonstrated leadership, including renewable energy, green initiatives, science, research, information technology, and digitalisation.
President Katonivere also underscored the existential threat climate change poses to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific region.
He reiterated Fiji's commitment to accelerating climate action and maintaining the global target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In response, President Rinkēvičs expressed his appreciation for the meeting and affirmed Latvia's willingness to further deepen cooperation with Fiji in these key areas including the upcoming UNFCC COP29 in Azerbaijan and the Third Oceans Conference in France in November.