Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka arrives in New Delhi for first official visit to India
New Delhi: Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, beginning his first official three-day visit to India, a move aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations across diverse sectors, including health, education, renewable energy and climate change cooperation.
Rabuka was received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar. Accompanying the Fijian leader on this visit are his wife, Sulueti Rabuka, Minister of Health and Medical Services Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, and other senior officials.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs extended a warm welcome, with its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal sharing the arrival news on X. “Warm welcome to PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji as he arrives in New Delhi on his first visit. PM Rabuka was received by MoS Education & DoNER, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar at the airport. The visit will further deepen partnership across diverse sectors,” he posted.
During his stay, Prime Minister Rabuka will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, where both leaders are expected to focus on further intensifying cooperation in development, trade, cultural exchanges and regional issues concerning the Indo-Pacific. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu as part of his official engagements.
The visit follows closely on the heels of the sixth round of India–Fiji Foreign Office Consultations held in Suva in July 2025, where officials from both nations reviewed the full spectrum of cooperation. India was represented by Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) at the Ministry of External Affairs, while Raijeli Taga, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, led the Fijian side. The consultations covered areas such as public health, education, capacity building, trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, climate change adaptation and cultural ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to regular high-level exchanges and deeper collaboration.
In its official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs described the Suva consultations as an opportunity “to review and discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations in order to deepen and diversify the India-Fiji partnership.” The next round of consultations will take place in New Delhi in 2026 at a mutually agreed date.
With inputs from IANS