Fiji Passport

【 Country Name 】 The Republic of Fiji.

The land area is 18300 square kilometers, and the marine exclusive economic zone covers 1.29 million square kilometers.

The population is approximately 890000. The official languages are English, Fijian, and Hindi, with English being the common language.

【 Capital 】 Suva.

President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalawu was elected in October 2024 for a term of three years.

Independence Day: October 10th

【 Overview 】 Located in the center of the Southwest Pacific, it consists of 332 islands, of which 106 are inhabited. Many volcanic islands are surrounded by coral reefs, mainly including Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. It belongs to a tropical oceanic climate and is often hit by hurricanes. The annual average temperature is between 22 ℃ and 30 ℃.

Fijians live on islands. In 1643, Dutch navigator Tasman first arrived in Fiji. In the first half of the 19th century, Europeans began to migrate in. In 1874, it became a British colony. From 1879 to 1916, a large number of Indians came here as contract workers for the British "Colonial Sugar Company" to plant sugarcane. On October 10, 1970, it gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth. After the 1987 coup, it was renamed the Republic. In 1990, the country's name was established as the "Fiji Sovereign Democratic Republic" through a new constitution. In July 1997, the country's name was changed to the "Republic of Fiji Islands" through a constitutional amendment. In 2009, the country's name was changed to the Republic of Fiji.

In December 2022, Fiji will hold general elections. The political party alliance composed of the People's Alliance Party, the National Alliance Party, and the Social Democratic Freedom Party defeated the 16-year-old ruling party of Mbanimarama and his Fiji First Party, winning the general election. The leader of the People's Alliance Party, Rambuka, became the Prime Minister.

The new constitution was implemented on July 25, 1990. In July 1997, Fiji amended the provisions regarding discrimination against Indian political rights through the 1990 constitutional amendment, which was officially implemented in July 1998. In May 1999, Fiji held its first national election in accordance with the 1997 Constitution. During the 2000 coup, the 1997 constitution was abolished. In 2001, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the constitution remained valid and was recognized by the Grand Council of Chiefs, President Iloilo, and others. In April 2009, President Iloilo announced the abolition of the constitution. On September 6, 2013, the new constitution of Fiji was signed and promulgated by President Narathikau.

According to the 2013 Constitution, the Fijian Parliament is a unicameral system with a total of 51 seats. The current parliament will be elected in December 2022. The current Speaker, Atonio Larabalawu (serving until November 12, 2024), and the Deputy Speaker, Leona Sarusaru Airiretaba.

The cabinet system is formed by the majority party in the parliament. The current government will be sworn in in in December 2022. The cabinet currently has 19 members, mainly including: Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Civil Service Affairs, Information and Public Enterprises; Graham Leung, Attorney General; Biman Chand Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics; Viliame Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade Cooperation and Small and Medium Enterprises; Lynda Tabuya, Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Reduction. Minister of Interior and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua, Minister of Education Aseri Radrodro, and others.

There are 2 municipalities directly under the central government, 4 major administrative regions, and 14 provinces in China. Suva and Lautoka are municipalities directly under the central government.

The judicial system includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and District Court. The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice and no more than seven judges. The acting Chief Justice is Salesi Temo.

The registered legal political parties include: Fiji First Party, Social Democratic Liberal Party, Fiji Labour Party, National Alliance Party, United Fiji Party, Liberal Alliance, We United Fiji Party, New Era Party, and People's Alliance Party. The basic information of the main political parties is as follows:

(1) People's Alliance: The ruling party. Lambka was formed in October 2021 to compete for the 2022 general election. Advocate for governing the country in a fair and democratic manner, creating a favorable environment for all Fijians to live a decent life, with supporters mainly consisting of Fijians. In the 2022 general election, he formed an alliance with the National Alliance Party and the Social Democratic Liberal Party and won the election.

(2) National Federation Party: The ruling party. Established in 1964, originally known as the "Alliance Party", it merged with other political parties and adopted its current name. It participated in the fight for independence in Fiji and is currently the earliest political party established in Fiji. Party leader Biman Prasad. The first Indian political party formed by sugarcane farmers of Indian ethnicity to fight for their rights, mainly relying on the support of the Indian people.

(3) Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA): The ruling party. The United Fiji Party, founded in May 2001 by former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, changed its name to its current leader Viliame Gavoka in May 2013. Advocating for promoting national reconciliation while also taking into account the interests of the Fijian and Rotuma ethnic groups, the main supporters include traditional Fijian chiefs and some grassroots Fijian people.

(4) Fiji Labour Party: Established in July 1985. Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. A political party with the support of major trade unions, with the Indian ethnic group as the main body, mainly representing the interests of middle and lower class Indian people, and having a certain influence among Indian sugarcane farmers, union members, and some intellectuals.

[Important Person] Viliam Catonivere: President. Born on April 20, 1964 in Fiji. After graduating from university, he enlisted and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After retiring, he mainly engaged in agricultural related business activities and served as a director of several agricultural companies such as Fiji Sugar Corporation. Appointed as the Chairman of Fiji First Party in 2014. Later faded out of politics. Elected as the sixth President of Fiji in October 2021.

Sitivini Lambka: Prime Minister and leader of the People's Alliance Party. Born on September 13, 1948 in Fiji. Has received military training in countries such as New Zealand, India, and Australia. Joined the Royal Fiji Army in 1968. In 1981, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army. Appointed as the Commander of the Philippine Army in 1987. In May and September 1987, two military coups were launched. He served as the Prime Minister of the government from 1992 to 1999. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the Chairman of the Fiji Grand Council of Chiefs. Elected as the leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party in 2016, but lost the 2018 general election and became the leader of the opposition party in parliament. In October 2021, the People's Alliance Party was established and appointed as the party leader. On December 24, 2022, a political party alliance consisting of the People's Alliance Party, the National Alliance Party, and the Social Democratic Freedom Party won the parliamentary vote, and Rambuka was elected as the Prime Minister of the Fiji government.

Fiji is a country with strong economic strength and good economic development among Pacific island nations. The fishery and forest resources are abundant, with mineral deposits such as gold, silver, copper, and bauxite. The sugar industry and tourism industry are the pillars of the national economy. Fiji attaches great importance to the development of the national economy, emphasizes the development of private enterprises, establishes a relaxed policy environment, promotes investment and exports, and gradually develops the Fiji economy into an outward oriented economy with high growth, low taxes, and vitality. In recent years, affected by the COVID-19, economic development difficulties have increased. At present, the economy is gradually recovering.

The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 5.5 billion US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 5990 US dollars.

Economic growth rate: 8%

Currency name: Fiji Dollar.

Exchange rate: 1 US dollar ≈ 2.19 Philippine dollars

(Source: International Monetary Fund)

【 Resources 】 The forest covers an area of 935000 hectares, accounting for about half of the country's land area. About 250000 hectares have mining value and produce high-quality hardwood and pine. There are two gold mines, as well as resources such as copper, silver, bauxite, and oil. The fishery resources are abundant, with abundant production of tuna.

Industry is mainly focused on sugar extraction, followed by gold mining, fish product processing, wood and coconut processing.

The arable land area is about 288000 hectares, mainly producing sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, etc. Wheat is entirely imported, and rice can be self-sufficient by 20%. In recent years, the Philippine government has made efforts to develop diversified businesses and promote rice cultivation.

The tourism industry is relatively developed, and tourism revenue is the largest source of foreign exchange income for Fiji. There are about 40000 people working in the tourism sector nationwide, accounting for 15% of the employed population. In 2020, the tourism industry was severely impacted by the COVID-19, and only 147000 foreign tourists were received throughout the year, a year-on-year decrease of 83.6%. In 2021, it further decreased to 32000 people. The border will be opened on December 1, 2021. In 2023, the total number of tourists received was nearly 930000, exceeding the pre pandemic level.

Fiji is a transportation hub for Pacific island countries, with well-developed water, land, and air transportation. The capital Suva Port is an important international seaport that can accommodate ships of tens of thousands of tons. Suva's Nausori Airport can accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft, while Nadi Airport can take off and land large passenger planes such as Boeing 747.

Air Transport: Fiji Airways (formerly Pacific Airways) is an international airline that operates routes to Australia, Singapore, the United States, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and Hong Kong. Airlines from Australia, New Zealand, Nauru and other countries have scheduled flights stopping at Nadi International Airport. Naosori Airport is mainly a domestic civil aviation airport. Fiji Airways and Sunflower Airlines mainly operate domestic inter island routes.

In 2022, the total foreign trade volume was 4.06 billion US dollars, of which exports were 1.07 billion US dollars and imports were 2.99 billion US dollars, resulting in a long-term trade deficit. The export destinations are the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and the main import sources are Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, China, etc. The main imports include fuel, transportation equipment, chemical products, food, etc. The exports include sugar, fish, gold, wood, and mineral water.

Foreign capital plays an important role in Fiji's national economy. The commercial outlets in the domestic market of Fiji are mainly controlled by two Australian multinational companies. Banks, insurance, shipping, telecommunications, and gasoline supply are also controlled by foreign capital.

Foreign aid mainly comes from Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, the European Union, China, and the United Nations Development Programme.

The full name of the Fiji Army is the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), named after the 1990 Constitution of Fiji. The President concurrently serves as the Commander in Chief of the military and appoints the Military Commander based on the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior. The Military Commander is accountable to the President and the Minister of the Interior. Current military commander Jon Kalouniwai took office in September 2021.

The Fiji Army consists of an army and a navy, consisting of a regular army and a reserve force. Currently, the regular army has about 3600 soldiers and the reserve force has 4000 soldiers. The navy has 330 personnel and is equipped with 5 types of ships and patrol boats. Fiji has dispatched soldiers and police to participate in peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, Kosovo, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Iraq, Sudan, and other regions.

Implement free education at the junior high and primary school levels. The enrollment rate of school-age children is over 98%. The annual education budget accounts for about 15% of the total government budget expenditure. The University of the South Pacific is jointly organized by countries in the South Pacific region, with its main campus located in the capital city of Suva.

The main newspapers include the English version of Fiji Times, which is affiliated with the Fiji Times Company established in 1869; The Daily Post, founded in 1974; Fiji Sun, founded in 2000. Chinese newspapers include Fiji Daily and Fiji Voice. In June 2009, the Fiji News Department officially launched the official newspaper "New Dawn", which is published every two weeks, aiming to help the Fiji people understand government policies, as well as economic and social development plans and projects.

The main magazines are "Island Business" and "Pacific Islands Monthly", which are distributed in the Pacific Island region.

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited, founded in 1985, is a nationwide broadcasting network in Fiji consisting of six radio stations, with two each broadcasting in Fijian, Hindi, and English.

Fiji TV was established at the end of 1993 by Television New Zealand, Fiji Development Bank, and private shareholders. In 2005, the Pacific Sky Satellite Television Program Service Department was established for the Pacific Island region.

Fiji is a country with active diplomacy among Pacific island nations, emphasizing its relationship with developed Western countries such as Australia and New Zealand while maintaining traditional relations with Pacific island countries. In recent years, Fiji has actively developed relations with Asian countries as well as African and American countries. We have established diplomatic relations with over 170 countries. Fiji is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth, World Trade Organization, Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community, Melanesian Pioneer Group, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, and Group of 77. Fiji actively participates in international and regional affairs and is currently the location of the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). In 2013, Fiji proposed the establishment of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF). In June 2016, Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Thompson, was elected as the President of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. In November 2016, Fiji was elected as the President of the 23rd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Fiji has a traditional and close relationship with Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand are the most important trading partners and aid countries of Fiji. Australia, Singapore, and Fiji will establish high commissioner offices for each other. According to the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, except for a few commodities such as sugar and clothing, Fiji unilaterally enjoys duty-free or unrestricted market access treatment for exports to Australia and Singapore.

After the Fiji coup in December 2006, Australia and Singapore announced sanctions against Fiji. After the Fiji general election in September 2014, relations between Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji gradually improved. In October 2014 and February 2016, Australian Foreign Minister Bishop visited Fiji. In June 2016, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key made an official visit to Fiji. In October 2016, Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama made an official visit to New Zealand and also visited Australia. In 2017, M visited Australia three times to attend events and met with Australian Prime Minister Turnbull twice. In September 2018, M met with New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly event. In January 2019, Australian Prime Minister Morrison visited Fiji. In September 2019, Prime Minister Bainimarama visited Australia. In February 2020, New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern visited Fiji. New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta's visit to Fiji in March 2022. In April 2022, Australian Governor General Hurley visited Fiji. In May 2022 and February 2023, Australian Foreign Minister Huang Yingxian visited Fiji. In March 2023, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta visited Fiji respectively. In June 2023, Fiji Prime Minister Lambka visited New Zealand. In October 2023, Fiji Prime Minister Lambka visited Australia. In December 2023, the Maori King of New Zealand, Parki, visited Fiji. In October 2024, Fiji Prime Minister Lambka visited New Zealand.

The EU and the United States are the main export markets for Fiji's raw sugar and agricultural products, as well as important sources of Fiji's tourists and investment. According to the Lom é Agreement and the Cotonou Agreement, the EU purchases Fiji sugar (due to expire in September 2017) at three times the international market price, with 70% of Fiji sugar sold to the EU annually. Fiji has embassies in the UK, while France, the UK, and the EU have embassies in Fiji.

In October 1970, the United States recognized Fiji's independence. Fiji and the United States establish embassies with each other. Fiji attaches great importance to its relationship with the United States and believes that US aid is of great significance for Fiji's market access and regional competition. It actively promotes the activities of the US South Pacific Joint Business Committee. Fei is one of the main supply points for the US military in the Pacific. In February 2022, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Fiji. In April 2022, Campbell, the coordinator of Indo Pacific affairs for the White Palace National Security Council, visited Fiji. In September 2022, Prime Minister Bainimarama of Fiji went to the United States to attend the first US Pacific Island Leaders' Summit. In January 2023, US Indo Pacific Commander Aquilino visited Fiji. In March 2023, Campbell, the coordinator of Indo Pacific affairs for the White House National Security Council, visited Fiji. In September 2023, Fiji's Prime Minister Lambka went to the United States to attend the second United States Pacific Islands Forum Summit. In August 2024, US Deputy Secretary of State Campbell visited Fiji.

In August 2000, Japan was the first Western country to recognize the interim government established after the coup d 'é tat in Fiji. Fiji and Japan establish embassies with each other. In May 2015 and May 2018, Prime Minister Bainimarama visited Japan twice in a row to attend the 7th and 8th Japan Pacific Island Leaders' Meetings. In August 2019, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono visited Fiji. In May 2022, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi visited Fiji. In February 2024, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Uekawa visited Fiji and chaired the fifth interim ministerial meeting of the Japan Pacific Islands Summit. In July 2024, Prime Minister Lambka went to Japan to attend the 10th Japan Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting.

A large part of Fiji's population is of Indian descent, and the two sides have had close historical ties. India established diplomatic relations with Fiji after its independence. In November 2014, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Fiji. In August 2015, Prime Minister Bainimarama of Fiji went to India to attend the Indo Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting. In March 2018, M went to India to attend the International Solar Alliance conference and met with Indian Prime Minister Modi. In February 2023, Indian Foreign Minister Ajaccio visited Fiji. In May 2023, Indian Prime Minister Modi met with Fiji Prime Minister Lambka during his attendance at the Third India Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit in Papua New Guinea. In February 2024, Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Prasad visited India.

Fiji attaches great importance to its traditional relations with other Pacific island countries and is a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum. Fiji frequently exchanges visits with leaders of other Pacific island countries. After the 2006 Fiji coup, the Pacific Islands Forum suspended Fiji's participation in forum activities. After the 2014 Fiji general election, Fiji resumed participation in the Pacific Islands Forum activities. Since 2011, the Philippine government has been hosting the "Contact the Pacific" conference in Fiji, and since 2013, it has been hosting the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) summit, focusing on the economic development and sustainable development of island countries. The first three Pacific Islands Development Forum sessions were held in Fiji. In July 2016, the Fourth Pacific Islands Development Forum was held in the Solomon Islands. In July 2019, the Pacific Islands Development Forum held its 2019 conference in Fiji. On August 6, 2021, the Pacific Islands Forum held a forum leaders' summit via video conference, chaired by Fiji Prime Minister Mbanimarama, who took over as the rotating chair of the forum. The 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting will be held in Fiji from July 11-14, 2022. In February 2023, the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Informal Special Meeting was held in Fiji.