Great Council of Chiefs, MPs to visit India

The Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) and members of Fiji’s Parliament will visit India in 2026 to strengthen democratic and cultural ties between the two nations.

The announcement was made in a joint statement following Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s official visit to India, where he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Both Leaders underlined the importance of Parliamentary exchanges as a step toward strengthening democratic and legislative exchanges,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the proposed visit by Fijian parliamentarians, describing it as crucial for sharing democratic practices and legislative experiences.

The GCC, Fiji’s traditional chiefly body that plays a key role in promoting social unity and community development, will also send a delegation to India.

During discussions, Mr Rabuka highlighted the GCC’s role in fostering social cohesion, while Mr Modi said the delegation’s visit would further strengthen people-to-people ties and acknowledged the council’s significance in Fijian society.

The parliamentary exchange is expected to provide opportunities for Fijian lawmakers to learn from India’s democratic processes while sharing Fiji’s own parliamentary experiences. The GCC delegation, meanwhile, will focus on cultural and traditional exchanges, building on the historical connections between India and Fiji through the Girmitiya heritage.

Both visits form part of wider efforts to deepen bilateral relations beyond government-to-government cooperation, extending partnerships to traditional institutions and democratic bodies.

The announcements came alongside a series of agreements signed during Mr Rabuka’s three-day official visit to New Delhi, marking new milestones in India-Fiji relations.