In anticipation of hosting the highly anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup, France is seeking to forge stronger alliances with Fiji across various sectors, including sports, economy, trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections. This objective was emphasized during an introductory call between the French Ambassador to Fiji, Mr. François-Xavier Léger, and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua.
Honourable Qereqeretabua expressed Fiji’s commitment to seeking cooperation with France on regional and global platforms. She commended France’s ongoing collaboration with Fiji and identified key areas for potential partnerships, such as climate change and oceans, trade and investment, defense and maritime security, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Stressing the potential of sports diplomacy, Honourable Qereqeretabua highlighted the significant opportunities for both nations to enhance cooperation, especially with France hosting major sporting events like the 2023 Rugby World Cup. She also underlined Fiji’s intention to work closely with France as the co-chair and host of the UN Ocean Summit 2025, anticipating new prospects to advance shared objectives in the coming months.
Furthermore, Honourable Qereqeretabua affirmed that the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs would collaborate closely with the French Embassy to strengthen cooperation at all levels. Ambassador Léger congratulated her on her new appointment and conveyed France’s eagerness to develop new avenues of cooperation with Fiji, particularly in the realms of climate change, defense and security, and sports.
Ambassador Léger highlighted the French Development Agency’s efforts to diversify its activities, including initiatives like the Kiwa Initiative, which focuses on nature-based solutions against climate change. He also mentioned a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Fiji Development Bank. Moreover, the ambassador acknowledged the valuable cooperation between the French Army in New Caledonia and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime surveillance, and the fight against illegal fishing. He shared that a French Army officer would soon join the Black Rock training center.
Expressing anticipation for the Rugby World Cup, Ambassador Léger eagerly welcomed Fiji’s national team and fans to France in September to October 2023. He expressed confidence that the Flying Fijians would raise the level of the game and emphasized that the tournament would provide an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and develop relations across various domains, including politics, economics, and culture.
As Bastille Day, the French National Day, approaches on July 14th, Ambassador Léger conveyed France’s enthusiasm for commemorating the strong friendship shared between the two nations.
