Fiji and New Zealand have agreed to expand their security partnership into policing co-operation.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was hosted by her Fiji counterpart Frank Bainimarama today in Suva.
Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama with New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern in London, 2018 Photo: Supplied
A joint statement from the two leaders referred to the strong, positive trajectory of the countries' relationship, which includes addressing existential threats facing the Pacific region.
Citing common security challenges, Ms Ardern and Mr Bainimarama acknowledged the success of a bilateral defence partnership programme launched last year.
Having rebuilt defence links after some years apart following Fiji's last coup in 2006, security ties are getting closer again - the two countries have announced a foray into policing co-operation.
A new programme to lift the capability of Fiji's police force is to boost the two countries' joint efforts to address transnational organised crime.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the expansion of government-to-government links, which have flourished across a range of areas - including peace and security, climate change and disaster resilience, labour mobility, agriculture and fisheries.
There has also been collaboration on economic reform, and advocacy on Pacific issues, the statement adds.
Royal New Zealand Navy officers and personnel from Fiji Revenue and Customs Service wade towards a remote island where over 12 kgs of cocaine were found in August 2019 Photo: New Zealand Defence Force
To formalise the progress made in the bilateral partnership, the Prime Ministers committed to issuing a new Fiji-New Zealand Statement of Partnership.
This would be what the statement describes as "a living document", informed by the development aims of Fiji, and a vision for the bilateral relationship and for the wider Pacific region.
There will be regular ministerial and high-level consultations, beginning with a reciprocal visit to New Zealand by Prime Minister Bainimarama.
Meanwhile, the Prime Ministers said people in Fiji and New Zealand shared many social wellbeing and health challenges, including the impact of natural disasters, non-communicable diseases, and gender-based violence.
The two countries would work to find "new ways to improve the health, wellbeing and resilience" of their people.
The Prime Ministers highlighted the protection and empowerment of Pacific women as a shared priority and an area in which New Zealand will continue to support Fiji's domestic policy agenda.