Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama (pictured) will join global leaders including heads of government and states at the General Debate of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The head of government will leave on Saturday 21st September and will be accompanied to New York by Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
He will deliver Fiji’s National Statement at the General Assembly on the 25th of September where he will discuss Fiji’s irrefutable progress towards national elections in 2014, the release of the new Constitution, as well as Fiji’s growing leadership responsibility in both the region and the wider international community, in particular as this year’s chair of the G77 plus China.
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson said that while the Prime Minister’s visit is to deliver Fiji’s statement to world leaders at the annual UN Meet, he will also attend meetings relevant to Fiji’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.
Whilst in New York, he will participate at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and a separate meet that follows up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. At both events, he will be one of the leading speakers in his capacity as Chair of the Group of 77.
“On Sunday 22nd September, shortly after his arrival in New York, the Prime Minster will be the keynote speaker at the “High-level Forum on South-South Economic Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Investing in Broadband”,” Ambassador Thomson said.
“This gathering will be attended by Government leaders and business representatives who will address planning for sustainable development through Broadband and technology.”
The visit to the UN will also see both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister attend a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts and other dignitaries during that week.
During the Leaders Week, Minister Kubuabola, will be representing Fiji at a number of PSIDS Ministerial meetings where he will also Chair a day-long G77 Ministerial Meeting on 26th September and attend the Ministers meeting of the Non Aligned Movement on 27th September.
MINFO