Singapore, Fiji strengthen ties amidst global uncertainty

The two countries will deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and connectivity.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his Fijian counterpart, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their bilateral cooperation to navigate the “increasingly uncertain and turbulent world.”

“In this increasingly uncertain and turbulent world, as we discussed this morning, it has become more vital than ever for like-minded countries like us to come together—to collaborate for mutual benefit and to uphold the rules-based international order,” PM Wong said in his toast speech for PM Rabuka.

The two countries will deepen ties in trade, investment, and connectivity. Both prime ministers have also agreed to expand their collaboration in climate resilience and human capital development.

“As Small Island Developing States, Singapore and Fiji are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and that is why we are both pushing for more global action, including at multilateral forums, like the Forum of Small States and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), to amplify our collective voice,” PM Wong said.

PM Wong also pledged to support Fiji’s human capital development. To date, over 1,500 Fiji officials have participated in the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

“We will continue to offer capacity-building programmes in areas like digital transformation and good governance, or other areas that Fiji would like us to focus on,” PM Wong said.

Singapore became a dialogue partner of the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in 2022.

PM Wong said that Singapore supports the PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which was launched under Fiji’s leadership.

“Our Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing package was specially tailored to complement this strategy and supports the Pacific’s priorities in areas like climate resilience, cybersecurity, and international law,” PM Wong said.