The Prime Minister, Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama has extended his well wishes to his Vanuatu counterpart, Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu on the celebration of their National Day and 35th Anniversary of Independence.
Prime Minister Bainimarama lauded the strong spirit of the people of Vanuatu while commiserating with the challenges faced by the country during the wake of Cyclone Pam.
“We salute the Ni-Vanuatu for their courage and resilience and assure them that Fiji will always be willing to come to their assistance in times of crisis as we are not merely neighbours but brothers and sisters in the great Melanesian family,” PM Bainimarama said.
“Fiji was privileged to be part of the relief effort and the personal bonds that were forged between members of the Fijian contingent and the people of Vanuatu have strengthened our relationship in a very special way.”
Vanuatu and Fiji have shared a long and uniquely warm bilateral relationship where both countries have worked together closely on various capacities of common interest at a regional and global level.
Hon. Bainimarama said Fiji plans to partner with Vanuatu in the lead-up to the World Climate Summit in Paris in November where both countries intend to lead the campaign for decisive global action to tackle the issue of climate change.
“We need the industrial nations to sign up to drastic cuts in carbon emissions if we are to halt the global warming that is producing the rise in sea levels and extreme weather events such as the one that devastated your nation in March,” PM Bainimarama said.
“We celebrate the friendship between our nations and on this most special of days, every Fijian joins me in wishing you and the people of Vanuatu a very happy anniversary.”
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