US State Secretary on first visit to Fiji in 37 years

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Saturday in the Republic of Fiji on a working visit, Report informs, citing TASS that this was reported by the local news portal Fiji Village.

The agenda of the first visit of the chief of the US State Department to the island republic since 1985 includes a number of meetings with Fijian officials and an online conference with the leaders of the Pacific states.

According to the portal, Blinken met at Nadi Airport with Fiji Interim Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum, members of the country's cabinet, and discussed with them the climate crisis, ways to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as new opportunities in helping island countries in case of natural disasters. A separate item on the agenda of the meeting was a discussion of "common commitment to democracy, regional solidarity, and prosperity in the Pacific".

It is planned that before the end of the day, the leaders of the countries will hold another round of talks on deepening bilateral cooperation and ways to develop a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, during an online conference with the leaders of 18 Pacific island nations, Blinken is expected to discuss the effects of global warming and the fight against the climate crisis, support and strengthen the region's economy on the path to recovery from the pandemic, and help with disaster relief.