Russian Ambassador Presents Credentials to President of Fiji, Emphasis on Promoting Bilateral Relations

Suva — Head of the Russian diplomatic mission, His Excellency Mr. Mikhail Petrakov, visited the Fijian capital, Suva, from 17 to 20 May 2026.

On 19 May, Mr. Petrakov presented his Letter of Credence, accrediting him as the non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Fiji, to the President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency the Honourable Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. Following the official ceremony, a brief conversation took place, during which the parties discussed prospects for the development of Russian-Fijian relations and a broad range of current international issues.

During the visit, Ambassador Petrakov was received by Prime Minister the Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign and External Trade, Dr. Raijeli Taga. The parties outlined areas for further cooperation and conducted a substantive exchange of views on climate change and combating transnational crime. They reaffirmed the closeness of Moscow’s and Suva’s approaches to building equal relations based on mutual respect in the context of the emerging multipolar world order.

Ambassador Petrakov paid a courtesy call on the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, Mr. Wang Yuan. The sides underscored the special significance of the anniversaries commemorated this year — the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China, as well as the 30th anniversary of Russian-Chinese relations acquiring the status of a “partnership and strategic interaction.”

The Head of the Russian diplomatic mission also visited the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Office of the Pacific Islands, where he was briefed on current regional challenges, including the consequences of natural disasters, as well as mechanisms for strengthening international cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance.