Fiji

Colonial Legacy
- Union Jack

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/fiji/11386786/Fiji-to-remove-Union-Jack-from-flag-PM-says.html Fiji will remove the Union Jack from its flag and replace it with a design that symbolises the Pacific nation, not former colonial power Britain, Voreqe Bainimarama, the prime minister, said. A one-time coup leader who was elected last September in Fiji's first elections in eight years, Mr Bainimarama said the flag had served the country well since independence in 1970 but was now outdated. "We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past," he said. "The new flag should reflect Fiji's position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state." http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2015-02/04/content_19482615.htm
• http://www.chinadailyasia.com/asia/2015-02/27/content_15232442.html Fijians will get the opportunity to design a new flag as the country prepares to ditch Britain's Union Jack.
  Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced Friday the Pacific island nation was launching a two-month competition starting Monday to find the best replacement flag. He said a panel of citizens will chose the best designs, with the final decision going to lawmakers.
  He said the winning designer will get to hoist the new flag on Oct 10 - the 45th anniversary of the nation's independence.
  Fiji's current flag features the Union Flag, commonly called the Union Jack, in the canton, or top left corner.

association
- The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum. In 1999, the name was changed; Pacific Islands Forum is more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries, including Australia. It is an official observer at the United Nations^[3].The mission of the Pacific Islands Forum is “to work in support of Forum member governments, to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people of the South Pacific by fostering cooperation between governments and between international agencies, and by representing the interests of Forum members in ways agreed by the Forum”. Its decisions are implemented by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), which grew out of the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation (SPEC). As well as its role in harmonising regional positions on various political and policy issues, the Forum Secretariat has technical programmes in economic development, transport and trade. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General is the permanent Chairman of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP). In September 2011, the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands were granted observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum,^[5] while in September 2016 the French territories of French Polynesia and New Caledonia were granted full membership.

• From August 5–7, 1971, the first meeting of the South Pacific Forum was initiated by New Zealand and held in Wellington, with attendants of the following seven countries: the President of Nauru, the Prime Ministers of Western Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, the Premier of the Cook Islands, the Australian Minister for External Territories, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. It was a private and informal discussion of a wide range of issues of common concern, concentrating on matters directly affecting the daily lives of the people of the islands of the South Pacific, devoting particular attention to trade, shipping, tourism, and education. Afterwards this meeting was held annually in member countries and areas in turn. In 1999, the 30th South Pacific Forum decided to transform into Pacific Islands Forum, with more extensive and formal way of discussion and organization. Immediately after the forum’s annual meeting at head of government level, the Post Forum Dialogue (PFD) is conducted at ministerial level with PFD development partners around the world.
• The Biketawa Declaration is a declaration agreed to by all the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum constituting a framework for coordinating response to regional crises. The declaration was agreed to at the 31st Summit of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, held at Kiribati in October 2000 in the regional context of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and ethnic tensions in the Solomon Islands. The Biketawa Declaration has led to military and police forces as well as civilian personnel of Forum states, chiefly Australia and New Zealand, participating in regional peacekeeping and stabilization operations in Solomon Islands (2003-), Nauru (2004-2009) and Tonga (2006). 

• Australia and New Zealand are set to sign a wide-ranging security pact with South Pacific nations in September, amid growing concern about nations such as China expanding ties in the region. The agreement, due to be signed at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru, is expected to coordinate disaster response and defence cooperation among the forum's 18 countries. Australia's International Development Minister, Ms Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, told The Australian yesterday that the pact would bolster security cooperation and "provide a framework for responding to emerging threats". The agreement, in the making for some time, upgrades a similar pact signed in 2000. But it follows heightened concern in Australia and New Zealand about China's conduct.A report released by the NZ government yesterday explicitly warned about China's growing influence, saying it could affect stability in the region. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-nz-to-sign-security-pact-with-south-pacific-nations

• In August 2008, the Forum threatened to suspend Fiji if the latter did not commit to holding a general election by March 2009.^[8] Subsequently, at a special leaders' meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Papua New Guinea in January 2009, Forum leaders set a deadline of 1 May, by which date Fiji must set a date for elections before the end of the year. Fiji rejected the deadline. Consequently, on May 2, Fiji was suspended indefinitely from participation in the Forum with immediate effect.^[9][10] Toke Talagi, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue, described the suspension as "also particularly timely given the recent disturbing deterioration of the political, legal and human rights situation in Fiji since April 10, 2009".^[11] He described Fiji as “a regime which displays such a total disregard for basic human rights, democracy and freedom” which he believed contravened membership of the Pacific Islands Forum. Talagi emphasised, however, that Fiji had not been expelled and that it would be welcomed back into the fold when it returned to the path of "constitutional democracy, through free and fair elections".  The 2009 suspension of Fiji marked the first time that a country had been suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum in the history of the then 38-year-old organization. Following the Fijian general election of 17 September 2014, the Forum lifted the suspension of Fiji on 22 October 2014.
• The Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement^[23] (PICTA) aims to establish a free-trade area between 14 of the Pacific Islands Forum countries. It has not been signed by either Palau or the Marshall Islands. All of the signing states have ratified the treaty, with the exception of Micronesia. As of March 2008, six countries had announced that domestic arrangements had been made enabling them to trade under the agreement: Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands,^[25] Vanuatu. After the trade agreement goes into force, countries commit to removing tariffs on most goods by 2021. As of April 2008, The Forum Island Countries are also negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. It is important to note that the PICTA discussed here covers only the trade of goods. At the Forum Island Leaders Meeting held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on 28 August 2012, nine members signed the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement Trade in Services (PICTA TIS).^[27] As of April 2008, there is an ongoing negotiation to design and agree on a protocol to include trade in services and the temporary movement of natural persons (a broader concept than the GATS's Mode 4). The Office of the Chief Trade Adviser was established on 29 March 2010 to provide independent advice and support to the Pacific Forum Island Countries (FICs) in the PACER Plus trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand.

• The agreement was signed in 2001 and came into force in 2006. In 2004, the PICTA Trade Ministers' agreed to broaden the free trade area among the FICs to include trade in services (TIS). The PICTA TIS mirrors the multilateral rules for international services trade under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services. It covers eleven (11) services sectors: business communication, construction, distribution, educational, environmental, financial, health, tourism, recreational and transport.Currently 11 out of the 14 FICs have ratified PICTA, and only 6 FICs have announced their readiness to trade, presenting considerable challenges in the implementation of the agreement. The FICs that have ratified the PICTA are Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The FICs have also, to date, undertaken four rounds of PICTA TIS negotiations, however, no substantial commitments or progress has been made in services sector liberalisation or the liberalisation of temporary movement of natural persons. http://www.mitt.gov.fj/index.php/divisions/trade-division/regional-trade-agreement/the-pacific-island-countries-trade-agreement-picta

• An “open skies” policy has been under work by a number of nations. The Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement or PIASA would allow member nations to have more access for their airlines to other member countries. To date there have been ten signatories, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, while only six have ratified the agreement. These six are Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

company
- Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) is the government-owned sugar milling company in Fiji having monopoly on production of raw sugar in Fiji. It is also the largest public enterprise in the country employing nearly 3,000 people, while another 200,000 or more depend on it for their livelihood in rural sugar cane belts of Fiji. It operates four sugar mills, the Lautoka mill, the Rarawai mill in Ba, the Penang mill in Rakiraki in Viti Levu, and the Labasa mill in Vanua Levu. The mill in Lautoka is the largest in Fiji and once held the title of being the largest sugar mill in the southern hemisphere. The FSC was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1972, and officially came to existence on April 1, 1973. As of May 31, 2009, of the 44,399,998 fully paid shares, the government owned 30,239,160 shares (68.1%), and statutory bodies, local public companies and individuals held the rest of the shares. FSC has a board of directors appointed by the government, and the board acts as a policy-making and governing body. It is managed and staffed predominantly by Fiji citizens. Following independence from the Great Britain, Colonial Sugar Refining Company continued to act as Fiji's sugar marketing agent overseas until 1976 when the government formed Fiji Sugar Marketing Company, Ltd. to handle marketing activities. FSC has its head office in Lautoka. With farmers wanting more say in their dealings with FSC, the government decided on reforms within the industry. The Sugar Industry Act of 1984 restructured the industry and established three new organizations: the Sugar Commission of Fiji, the Sugar Industry Tribunal and the Sugar Cane Growers Council.

• The Fiji Sugar Corporation has vowed to make sugar as iconic as Fiji's water brand by marketing the product to the East Asian market soon. Graham Clark, Sugar Corporations chief executive, said that with reforms in progress, opening up new export channels and a revamped marketing strategy was being looked at for the ailing sugar industry. Clark said they were working on a new marketing strategy which would be launched soon to boost the sugar industry. http://www.apdnews.com/xin-hua/629811.html

- press/newspaper

• The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths (1844 Woolwich, England - 1908 Suva, Fiji), it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating. The newspaper's masthead states that it is: "The First Newspaper Published In The World Every Day". The Fiji Times is owned by Motibhai Group of Companies^[1], which purchased it from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp on 22 September 2010 .
• The Fiji's Daily Post (FDP) was a newspaper in Fiji that was founded in October 1987 by Wame Waqanisanini, Jr, who owned 50 percent of the shares. Taniela Bolea was the original publisher. The majority shares were later owned by the Fijian government. The newspaper suspended publication and has remain closed since 2010. The FDP suffered criticism from its commencement in 1989 to its closure in 2010 that it represented an extreme ethnic Fijian/Itaukei viewpoint in Fiji's national discourse. 
• fiji sun

university
- Fiji National University^[1] (FNU) formed in 2010 as a result of a merger between six institutions in Fiji, namely the Fiji Institute of Technology, Fiji School of Nursing, Fiji College of Advanced Education, Lautoka Teachers College, Fiji School of Medicine and Fiji College of Agriculture.

uk
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-pacific-islands-sign-trade-continuity-agreement A trade continuity agreement will see British businesses and consumers benefitting from continued trading arrangements with Fiji and Papua New Guinea after the UK leaves the EU. International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox signed the UK-Pacific agreement in London today (Thursday 14 March) with the Papua New Guinea and Fiji High Commissioners. The news has been welcomed by businesses including Tate & Lyle Sugars and Fiji Sugar Corporation, who say the sugar industry provides a living to nearly a quarter of the Fijian population. The agreement allows businesses to trade as freely as they do now, without any additional barriers or tariffs. It eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from Fiji and Papua New Guinea into the UK and will gradually remove around 80% of tariffs on British exports to these countries. These preferential terms are part of the UK government’s commitment to supporting developing countries to reduce poverty through trade. It will help them to grow their economies, create jobs, increase incomes and reduce reliance on overseas aid in the long-term.One company set to benefit from the Pacific Islands continuity agreement is UK business Tate and Lyle Sugars who over the last five years have sourced over 350,000 tonnes of raw cane sugar from Fiji. The firm, which directly employs 850 people in the UK, produces over 650 sugar, syrup and treacle products. This includes the iconic Lyle’s Golden Syrup – the UK’s oldest, unchanged brand.
- Talaiasi Labalaba BEM (13 July 1942 – 19 July 1972) was a British-Fijian sergeant in the SASwho was involved in the Battle of Mirbat on 19 July 1972. Labalaba initially served in the British Army in the Royal Ulster Rifles. A statue of him was erected in 2009 at the SAS headquarters in Herefordshire, and another in 2018 at Nadi International Airport in Fiji during a royal visit by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan.

China
-  斐 濟總理姆拜尼馬拉馬與夫人一行日前在中國駐斐濟大 使張平及有關人員、部門陪同下，專程訪問了廣汽乘 用車公司，並體驗了傳祺GS4等中國原創汽車產品， 對該款汽車大加點讚，期望能早日進入斐濟市場。在 參觀總裝工廠的過程中，廣汽集團執行董事、廣汽乘 用車董事總經理吳松向姆拜尼馬拉馬介紹了廣汽傳祺 世界級工廠和傳祺系列產品情況http://pdf.wenweipo.com/2015/07/24/a14-0724.pdf
- senior officials visit

• http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010-09/16/content_11311184.htm An initiative by the Chinese government to visit the northern division of Fiji has led to a team from the Chinese Embassy assigned to Vanua Levu this week. Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Han Zhiqiang is leading the tour in the northern division on Thursday and has been there since the beginning of the week.

- association

• 中鐵一局集團斐濟公司黨委副書記兼斐濟中國商會會長王剛http://pdf.wenweipo.com/2017/12/17/a05-1217.pdf

- extradition

• http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/336583/77-fraud-suspects-flown-from-fiji-to-china

- immigration

• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201511/1101/Hb07B01CHBB.pdf guangdong company 1521 announced together with fujian consulate staff in guangzhou that applications made through the company will return by phases the expenses relatingbp to emigration 

- beer

• 斐濟上海領事館總領事最新宣佈該國啤酒正式進入中國市場，並看好其在華發展前景。http://pdf.wenweipo.com/2017/10/25/b04-1025.pdf

chinese
- association

• 斐濟北方華人協會會長趙福剛表示，中共十九大極大地鼓舞了全黨全國人民以及海外僑胞為實現中華民族偉大復興的中國夢而奮鬥的信心與力量。海外華僑華人一定會積極響應和參與「一帶一路」建設，為祖（籍）國的繁榮與世界的共同發展作出貢獻。http://pdf.wenweipo.com/2017/12/17/a05-1217.pdf

- news

• http://www.fijichinesenews.com/

taiwan
- diplomatic relations

• 虽然未曾和台当局“建交”，但长年维持不错的关系。1971年台当局于斐济设立“商务代表团”，其后斐济与中华人民共和国政府于1975年建交，台当局即于1976年撤回“代表团”，改设立“亚东贸易中心”。1987年12月21日，斐济政府宣布将“亚东贸易中心”復名为“中华民国驻斐济商务代表团”，是当前少数在台湾当局的“非邦交国”使用“中华民国”称 号的“驻外机构”。1996年10月，台当局更与斐济签署“相互承认联合公报”。1997年，斐济政府派员赴台设立斐济“驻华贸易暨观光代表处”，直到此 次决定彻底裁撤。http://paper.takungpao.com/resfile/PDF/20170518/PDF/a19_screen.pdf

- http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20170518/00178_016.html 斐濟駐台貿易暨觀光代表處傳出在本月十日突然人去樓空。台灣的外交部昨證實消息，但就指台不會撤駐斐濟代表處。

Hong Kong
- cg 李汝大 interview http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201708/0821/HZ18821CTE1.pdf
- 香港斐濟總商會

• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201705/0525/HA07525CTE1.pdf obor event
• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201706/0620/HZ17620CTE1.pdf
• 駐京辦設立http://paper.takungpao.com/resfile/PDF/20140708/PDF/b11_screen.pdf

• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201507/0715/HA13715CSTA.pdf receive delegation friom fiji, 陳財喜、李汝大attended

• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201512/1229/HZ16C29CSTA.pdf welcome dinner for president of fuji

• Fundraising event http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201604/0401/HA12401CSTA.pdf

• Fundraising event http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201604/0408/HA12408CADD.pdf

• http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201608/0820/HZ16820CSTA.pdf promote tourism

•  http://www.hkcd.com.hk/pdf/201610/1015/HZ11A15CSTA.pdf new committee

• farewell fiji's ambassador to china http://hk.hkcd.com/pdf/201711/1101/HZ16B01CSTA.pdf

- news supp

• fiji national day hkcd 10oct18 b6