India, Fiji may be oceans apart but their aspirations sail in same boat: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India and Fiji may be oceans apart but their aspirations sail in the same boat as the two countries reaffirmed their resolve to build a broad-based partnership in areas such as defence, health, agriculture, agro-processing, trade and investment, development of small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, culture, sports, education and skill development.

Making a joint press statement after his official talks with visiting Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Modi said, “We see Fiji as a hub for cooperation with Pacific Island countries. We both support a free, open, inclusive, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Oceans of Peace’ is a very positive one. We welcome Fiji to join India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean initiative.”

Advertisement

“India and Fiji may be oceans apart, but our aspirations sail in the same boat,” PM Modi said, adding that the two nations are partners in building a world order where the independence, ideas and identity of the Global South are respected.

PM Modi said the two countries have decided to strengthen mutual cooperation in the field of defence and security.

“For this, an action plan has been prepared. To enhance Fiji’s maritime security, India will provide cooperation in training and equipment. In the areas of cyber security and data protection, we are ready to share our experience,” he said.

The Prime Minister said both countries were united against terrorism. “We agree that terrorism is a big challenge for the whole of humanity. We express our gratitude to Prime Minister Rabuka and the Government of Fiji for their cooperation and support in our fight against terrorism,” he added.

Speaking about decisions taken during the talks, PM Modi said, “In our comprehensive discussions today, we have taken several important decisions. We believe that only a healthy nation can be a prosperous nation. That is why we decided to build a 100-bed super specialty hospital in Suva. Dialysis units and sea ambulances will be sent. And, Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened, which will make affordable and high quality medicines available to every home.”

“In the field of agriculture, the lobia seeds from India are flourishing in Fiji’s soil. India will also provide 12 agricultural drones and two mobile soil testing laboratories to Fiji. We thank the Government of Fiji for approving Indian ghee,” he added.

PM Modi called climate change a critical threat to Fiji and said that the two nations are working together on renewable energy, especially solar energy.

“We are together in the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuels Alliance. We will now also help enhance Fiji’s capabilities in disaster response,” he remarked.

Recalling the creation of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), the Prime Minister said the initiative had strengthened India’s ties not just with Fiji but with the entire Pacific region.

“From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, our partnership is a bridge across the seas,” he said.

According to a joint statement which was adopted after the talks, Fiji reaffirmed its support for India as a Permanent Member in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council as well as its support to India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent membership for the term 2028-29.

Modi and Rabuka agreed on the urgent need for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, including through the expansion of the UN Security Council in both categories of membership to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

“Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening defence cooperation through new initiatives aimed at accelerating bilateral defence efforts and designed to promote mutual benefits and advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” the statement read.

“Prime Minister Modi announced the gifting of two ambulances to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the establishment of the defence wing in the High Commission of India in Suva. In view of cyber security being an emerging area of cooperation between both countries, the Leaders welcomed the establishment of Cyber Security Training Cell (CSTC) in Fiji. They emphasised the significant potential for collaboration on addressing current and emerging challenges, particularly in the maritime, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and technology sectors,” it further read.

Both the leaders witnessed the exchange of MoUs in areas including healthcare, capacity building, mobility, standardisation, ICET and business cooperation.

Earlier, PM Modi and the Fiji PM also held wide-ranging “productive talks” at Hyderabad House today.

Discussions covered strengthening ties in defence, trade, healthcare, agriculture, mobility, people-to-people ties, and advancing a shared vision for a resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.