By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The reopening of the High Commission of Fiji in Kuala Lumpur following a hiatus after the COVID-19 pandemic provides the republic with a platform to work with Malaysia and ASEAN, Fijian Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Raisevu Ditoka said.
Ditoka, who officiated at the reopening on Monday, said this was particularly important for issues central to Fiji’s resilience, including energy security, trade diversification, investment, education and people-to-people ties.
“The opening of this High Commission is not simply a ceremonial milestone. It reflects a deliberate decision by the Fijian Government to strengthen our footprint across Asia and to build the institutional relationships that will serve Fiji for decades to come,” he said at the reopening event here.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni attended the event.
Ditoka said the High Commission would deepen cooperation with Malaysian institutions on issues ranging from maritime affairs to renewable energy, amid the recent global fuel crisis, which reminded the republic of how exposed small island states like Fiji are to disruptions far beyond their shores.
He also highlighted the shared experience between the two countries, as both are “shaped by the sea, built on diversity, and forged within the Commonwealth family”.
“That shared experience gives us a natural basis for friendship and it is time that friendship was matched by a permanent diplomatic presence,” he added.
High Commissioner of Fiji to Malaysia Ratu Etueni Qiolele Caucau said Fijian ties with Malaysia began when the Fijian Infantry Regiment served alongside Commonwealth troops during the Malayan Emergency from 1952 to 1956.
“The friendship is now 70 years and Malaysia today shines as a country of progress and opportunities,” he said.
Ditoka is on a working visit to Malaysia from Sunday to Wednesday, his first since assuming office on Jan 19.
Wisma Putra, in a statement on Sunday, said total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Fiji amounted to RM880.01 million (US$206.2 million) in 2025, with Malaysia’s exports valued at RM867.92 million (US$204.41 million) and imports from Fiji at RM12.09 million (US$2.80 million).
According to information published in the event’s programme book, Malaysia ranks among Fiji’s top 10 trading partners, with several Malaysian companies operating in Fiji.
-- BERNAMA