Fiji told the importance of relations with India, said on the discussion of China - wrong thing...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitweni Rabuka thanked his old friend India on Thursday. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. He is on a three-day visit to Fiji, the Pacific island nation hosting the World Hindi Conference.

Avoided the question asked about China

Rabuka was sworn in as Fiji's PM in December. "We are very fortunate that such a huge power and economy is talking to us," he said, deflecting questions about ties with China.

Rabuka said, "We think it is bad to talk about someone who does not exist. We talked about our cooperation. We are very fortunate that such a great power and economy is talking to us." Is."

Relations with India will continue

Asked if China was discussed in the talks, he said, "We have very old friends. There are no new friends in the region. We have been friends with India. We have been friends with China." We will continue our relationship." "Pleased to say that India will always be a special friend and reliable partner," Rabuka said. Questions about Fiji's ties with China arose after reports that it scrapped an agreement signed in 2011 with Beijing to train its police.

Under the deal, Fijian officers were trained in China and Chinese officers were posted to Fiji for three to six months. He said that other countries Australia and New Zealand could remain, officials, as their system was similar to Fiji's.

The Fiji Times quoted Rabuka as saying that there was no need for Chinese state security personnel to be there because our systems are different. His statement was seen by many as an affront. Indeed, Beijing seeks to expand its influence in the Pacific and echoes what he said before the election in Fiji.

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