Australia, NZ Focus on Fiji Democracy, as China Ties Strengthen

Australia and New Zealand will meet this week to assess how well Fiji is transitioning back to democracy, as the Bainimarama-led military government has been busy strengthening its ties with China.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully will meet with their Fijian counterpart in Sydney on July 30 to assess how well Fiji is meeting its promise to return to democracy, and whether Fiji’s general election in 2014 is still on cue.

Last week, Mr McCully announced a $NZ2 million ($A1.54 million) injection to help Fiji with voter registration, constitutional process and voter education.

”We’ve been given an assurance by the [Fiji’s] attorney general … that there would be freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the media to report on the work of the commission,” he said, Stuff NZ reported.

”I was very clear that there were no strings attached. Subsequently, they’ve asked for some help from the New Zealand Elections Enrollment Centre, and we’ve had an expert up several times in recent months. They’ve asked for additional resourcing as well.”

Fiji’s slow progress on returning to democracy and election issues contributed to its suspension from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum in 2009.

Mr Carr told ABC Radio there were no immediate plans to lift the suspensions against Fiji.

“We are keen to see the country make a transition to democracy,” Mr Carr said. “We’ll make a decision on the lifting of the sanctions when it’s clear the commitment to democracy is irreversible.”

Mr McCully is supporting Australia’s stance, he told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and the Chinese Minister of State Development and Commission, H.E. Xie Zhenhua have agreed that China and Fiji will work together to increase cooperation.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release dated July 23 says Fiji and China will sign a Memorandum of Understanding, and focus on three key areas in preparation for climate change, including cooperation between small island nations, adaptation and capacity building for Fijians, and climate change training in China for Fijians.

Mr Kubuabola also agreed to improve Fiji’s balance of trade with China.

Gong Zheng, the vice-governor of the Chinese province of Zhejiang, one of China’s richest provinces, led the 12-member delegation to Fiji, Fiji Times reported.

The two officials agreed to step up sister-city and provincial relations, and to expand exports in agriculture, fisheries and timber.

Last year, Zhejiang exported $US26 million ($A24.84 million) to Fiji, whereas Fiji’s exports totalled $US220,000 ($A210,160), according to figures reported by Fiji Times.

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