Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Hyderabad House on Monday, where the two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen the long-standing partnership and close ties between their nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared the update on X, writing, “Welcoming an important Global South and FIPIC partner. PM Narendra Modi received PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks.”
Rabuka, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, August 24, is on his first visit to India in his current capacity.
He is accompanied by his spouse, Sulueti Rabuka, along with a high-level delegation including Health and Medical Services Minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and senior officials. Prime Minister Modi is also set to host a lunch in his honour.
Earlier in the day, Rabuka paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. During his visit, he is also scheduled to deliver a lecture titled ‘Ocean of Peace’ at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.
The visit comes weeks after India and Fiji held the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Suva in July 2025. Those discussions provided a comprehensive platform to review and expand cooperation in areas such as health, education, capacity building, trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, climate change, and cultural exchanges.
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The Indian side at the FOC was led by Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, while Raijeli Taga, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, represented Fiji. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and maintaining regular high-level political dialogue.
In its statement, the MEA said, “The FOC provided an opportunity to review and discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations... to deepen and diversify the India-Fiji partnership.” The next round of consultations is scheduled to take place in New Delhi in 2026, at a mutually convenient time.
Rabuka is also expected to call on President Droupadi Murmu. His visit comes close on the heels of President Murmu’s trip to Fiji in August 2024, during which she addressed the Fijian Parliament and underscored the “close ties” and “shared values” between the two countries.
According to the MEA, Prime Minister Rabuka’s engagements in India “underscore the long-standing and enduring ties between India and Fiji. It reaffirms the continued commitment of both countries to strengthen the bilateral relationship across all sectors further and deepen our close people-to-people ties.”
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