Fiji and Canada to cooperate on climate financing

Fiji and Canada have agreed to work together to address the capacity challenges preventing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from accessing climate financing at a meeting in New York between Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked Canada for its $1.63 million assistance to Fiji in the wake of Cyclone Winston and briefed the Canadian Prime Minister on Fiji’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Prime Minister Bainimarama also thanked Canada for its $5.48 billion contributions towards assisting developing countries facing challenges related to climate change and expressed his hope that Canada will continue to work closely with Fiji and other SIDS who are threatened by climate-related extreme weather events.

Prime Minister Trudeau recognised the cultural importance of Fiji’s diaspora in Canada and called for increased people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The two also agreed to work together to use Fiji as a regional hub to expand Canada’s relations with Pacific Island countries.

Prime Minister Bainimarama extended an invitation to Prime Minster Trudeau to visit Fiji in the near future.