Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tepaeru Herrmann reaffirmed Cook Islands commitment to work closely with Fiji to expand air and sea connectivity, to promote trade and investment and people to people links.

According to the Fiji Government, the meeting also looked at cooperation in the build up to the 52^nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders (PIF) Meeting.

Herrmann was in Fiji to give a brief update on the preparations for the Forum Leaders Meeting to be held from November 6 and 10.

She also met Fiji’s permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala.

Korovavala acknowledged the Cook Islands’ efforts in progressing the work of the Forum Chair since assuming the role in February this year.

He emphasised Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s commitment to regional solidarity and support for Cook Islands in the lead up to the Forum Meeting.

Korovavala also thanked the support given to Fijian diaspora population in the Cook Islands as they will continue to work through transformative initiatives in finalising the draft Fiji-Cook Islands Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Herrmann said: “It was a pleasure to meet Dr Korovavala so early in his tenure as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and find convergence in future aspirations for our bilateral and regional collaboration.”

“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration have over the last couple of years strengthened bilateral and regional co-operation with Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the opening of our High Commission in Suva in 2020 is testament to our investment in growing our partnership with Fiji.”

Herrmann added that her discussions with Korovavala affirmed their shared continued determination to expand air and sea connectivity which will support growth in trade, business and people to people links and a bilateral cooperation agreement which is currently under negotiation between the two countries will take their cooperation to newer heights.

• LL/FIJI GOVT