Suva, 17 November 2014

Fijian people have been invited to be part of the traditional welcoming ceremony to be accorded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Fiji, home to a large ethnic Indian population, this week.

The welcome ceremony will take place at Albert Park here Wednesday, Fiji Live reported.

During his visit, Modi will meet Fijian leaders as well as leaders and representatives of 12 other Pacific Island nations.

Modi is also expected to visit the parliamentary complex and make school visits. He will leave for India Nov 20.

He will be the second Indian prime minister to visit Fiji after the late Indira Gandhi, who toured in 1981.

Ethnic Indians comprise 37 percent of Fiji’s population of nearly 900,000.

Most of them are descendants of indentured labourers who were brought in by British rulers from India between 1879 and 1916 to work in the country’s sugarcane plantations.

India, China see Fiji as leader, says Bainimarama

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says that India and China acknowledge Fiji as a regional leader.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to visit Fiji this week, Fiji Live reported.

“They are coming because they recognise our achievement,” Bainimarama said.

“They are coming to assist us, our newly elected government. They are coming to encourage us in our overall foreign policy objective of being friends to all and enemies to none,” Bainimarama said.

“I will be telling them that there is room in the Pacific for everyone of goodwill, for everyone willing to assist our island nations to reach their full potential,” the prime minister added.

He said Narendra Modi recognises the historical link between India and Fiji and wants to help develop the country.

Modi will be in Fiji Nov 19 and the Chinese President Xi Jinping Nov 21-23.

Ethnic Indians comprise 37 percent of Fiji’s population of nearly 900,000.

Most of them are descendants of indentured labourers who were brought in from India by the British rulers between 1879 and 1916 to work in the country’s sugarcane plantations.