October 20, 2016
PM Bainimarama a favoured guest
The visit of Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is being seen as a turn in the political cycle and a chance to strengthen trade and other relations with the island nation.
Relations between New Zealand and Fiji have been frosty since the former armed forces commander took control of the country in 2006, and this is his first official visit since being elected prime minister in 2014.
He’ll meet with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Saturday before going with him to the rugby test against Australia at Eden Park.
New Zealand’s ambassador for Pacific development, Shane Jones, is acting as guide for the visit, including introducing him to business leaders like Maori seafood company Moana.
He says there are already trade and economic links between the two countries that Mr Bainimarama is keen to strengthen.
"They’ve got huge deficits in relation to infrastructure and roading and the quality of services, and I'm dealing with the man as the elected representative of his people, a neighbouring nation known as Fiji and without sounding trite, there is a point in any cycle, whether it is your own life of a political cycle, where you have got to let bygones be bygones, and he is being received by our Prime Minister as a favoured guest and it is a state reception," Ambassador Jones says.
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