Suva: President of India Droupadi Murmu reached Suva, Fiji this morning from Nadi where she landed yesterday on the first leg of her State Visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste.
She was received by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji at the airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to Fiji. President Murmu is accompanied on this visit by Minister of State Shri George Kurian, and Lok Sabha MPs Shri Saumitra Khan and Shri Jugal Kishore.
A traditional welcome ceremony was organised for President Murmu in the presence of the Prime Minister of Fiji. Subsequently, the President visited the State House where she was warmly received by President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere of Fiji.
The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the India-Fiji relationship. The President said that India remains committed to strengthening our relations and development partnership with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), among which Fiji is an important partner.
At the State House, the President of Fiji conferred the highest civilian award of Fiji – Companion of the Order of Fiji – upon President Droupadi Murmu. President Murmu also witnessed the progress of the ‘Solarisation of Heads of State Residences’ project, an Indian initiative that was inaugurated in February last year.
In the subsequent engagement, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji called on President Droupadi Murmu. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions and agreed to build upon the historic ties and strengthen the partnership between the two countries. The President said that India is committed to deepening its development partnership with Fiji, with a focus on building climate resilience and the development of clean and renewable energy.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also presided over a ceremony for handing over documents for the allocation of project sites for (i) High Commission of India Chancery and Indian Cultural Centre Complex, Suva and (ii) 100-bed Super Speciality Hospital, Suva.
The President said that we see our overseas Indian community across the world as important partners and stakeholders in the journey of building the India of our dreams.
The President also visited the National War Memorial in Suva to honour the memory of martyred soldiers. She also visited Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School, where she paid floral tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi.
In the last official engagement of the day, President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere of Fiji hosted a Reception in honour of President Murmu at State House, bringing together eminent Fijians from all walks of life. In her remarks on the occasion, the President thanked President Katonivere, Prime Minister Rabuka and the Government and people of Fiji for the warm welcome extended to her.
After the successful completion of official engagements in Suva, the President left for Nadi from where she will apply for Auckland, New Zealand tomorrow.
