The Government of Japan is ready to assist Fiji in electoral and other reforms.

This is what the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Seiji Maehara told his Fijian counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola during a bilateral meeting in Tokyo at the weekend.

The meeting heralds a major improvement in Japan's recognition of the ongoing developments in Fiji that will lead to general election in 2014.

Ratu Inoke explained about the major pillars of the Strategic Framework for Change leading to elections in Fiji in 2014, and that work was progressing well for Fiji to achieve its goals.

Maehara observed the importance of the election date and commented that Fiji should try to engage the understanding of, and dialogue with the international community in its reform process.

Several issues of importance to Fiji's bilateral relations with Japan was raised by Ratu Inoke during the meeting which included issues of Japanese Official Development Assistance to Pacific Island countries and Fiji in particular, political reform and Fiji's willingness to engage with the international community, the need for Fiji to deepen its trade and investment relations with Japan.


Story by: Sneh Chaudhry