Fiji (Commonwealth Union)_ Fiji and India have inked a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport bearers. Under the terms of this agreement, diplomatic and official passport holders will now be allowed to visit, transit, and stay in each other’s country visa-free for up to 90 days. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar signed and exchanged the MOU. According to Dr. S Jaishankar, the visa-free agreement will encourage travel between the two nations.
Dr. S Jaishankar stated, “The experience of the world at the Hindi convention would also surely enthuse all delegates, friends and relatives to come to Fiji”. Jaishankar is on an official trip to Fiji to attend the twelfth World Hindi Conference in Nadi from February 15-17. This is the first visit by an Indian leader to the island country in the South Pacific Ocean since a new coalition government took power in December of last year. On February 15, Jaishankar and the Fijian prime minister inaugurated the twelfth World Hindi Conference in Nadi, Fiji.
During a joint media conference in Fiji, Dr. S. Jaishankar stated that India and Fiji have maintained deep and long-standing relations, and that both nations have renewed these ties. He further added that India and Fiji have launched the solarization of the State House in Suva, which is the inaugural series of such projects that India is supporting throughout the Pacific Islands. According to him, this demonstrates India’s commitment to climate change. He also added that the visa-waiver agreement would encourage and boost more travel between the two nations.
Addressing the conference, Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji, expressed the gratitude of the Fijian people to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his extraordinary assistance in co-hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji. In addition, he lauded India’s efforts in supplying vaccines and humanitarian aid. According to Mr. Rabuka, the Fijian people will gain from the visa exemption arrangement, since many Fijians travel to India for medical care, tourism, and higher education.
