After Fiji, V Muraleedharan, the Union Minister, will go to Australia and Singapore.
The government said on Friday that V Muraleedharan, who is the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, will visit Melbourne, Perth, and Singapore from February 18 to 21.
During the trip, he will meet with ministers and a wide range of Indian people. This will also involve meetings with people in business and with students.
“His trips to Australia and Singapore are a continuation of his trips to Nadi, Fiji, on February 15–17, 2023, for the 12th World Hindi Conference, and to Sydney, Australia, on February 13, 2023,” said a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also in Fiji from February 15 to 17 to take part in a conference that the governments of India and Fiji are holding together. On his first trip to Fiji as minister of external affairs, he met with the leaders of the country in Suva on February 16.
दुनिया भर से १२वे #विश्वहिन्दीसम्मेलन में भाग लेने के लिए फ़िजी आये हिन्दी के विद्वानों और हिन्दी प्रेमियों से मिलकर अच्छा लगा।
हिन्दी के प्रति उनका प्रेम और इसके प्रचार के प्रति उनकी प्रतिबद्धता उल्लेखनीय है। pic.twitter.com/D3YtyXHD4m
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 16, 2023
Jaishankar met with the President of Fiji, Ratu Williame Katonivere, and started the project for the Solarisation of the Pacific Heads of State Residence at the State House in Suva. This project is being paid for by the Indian government. The project is the first pilot of the Solar Head of State initiative, which was started by the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) in Fiji and is being paid for by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
He also met with the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, and senior members of the Fijian cabinet, such as the three Deputy Prime Ministers and the Ministers for Home Affairs, Health, Education, Multi-ethnic Affairs, and Sugar. During the bilateral meeting with the PM, both leaders talked about ways to strengthen the development partnership between India and Fiji in areas like capacity building, health, education, agriculture, and information technology, according to the MEA.
Muraleedharan and Jaishankar were also at the 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan and went to the Sri Siva Subramanya Kovil in Nadi.
During his trip to Suva, Jaishankar opened the newly renovated Girmit Gallery in the Fiji Museum. This was made possible by a bilateral grant-in-aid from the Indian government. The Gallery shows how the Girmits, who were forced to work in Fiji, got there.
He also showed off a bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at India House in Suva, where a lot of people from the diaspora community were gathered.
India and Fiji signed an agreement that will let people with diplomatic or official passports from either country travel to and stay in the other country for up to 90 days without a visa, the MEA said.
“India and Fiji have been friends for a long time and have close, friendly ties. They also have a strong development partnership. This year is the 75th anniversary of India’s first diplomatic mission to Fiji. “This is the first visit by a high-level official to Fiji since the government changed in December 2022,” the MEA said.
