Watch: Jaishankar’s speech at World Hindi Conference in Fiji

Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere inaugurated the 12th World Hindi Conference in Nadi, a city on the country’s main island, today with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also in attendance.

The February 15-17 event at the Denarau Island Convention Centre is being co-hosted by the governments of India and Fiji.

“Deeply honoured to receive the traditional Sevusevu welcome in the presence of President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the inaugural of the 12th #VishwaHindiSammelan. Had the first cup of kava with a prayer for the health, peace and prosperity of India and Fiji,” tweeted Jaishankar after delivering his speech in Hindi.

This is Jaishankar’s first visit to Fiji and the first by an incoming Ministerial delegation after the formation of the new government in Fiji in December 2022. It comes close on the heels of the first high-level visit to India by Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Biman Prasad on 5-10 February 2023.

The concept of World Hindi Conferences was envisaged by Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, Wardha in 1973. As a result, the first World Hindi Conference was organized four and half decades back from 10-12 January, 1975 in Nagpur, India. The 11th World Hindi Conference was held in Mauritius in 2018.

Jaishankar will also visit Sydney, Australia on February 18. This would be his third visit to Australia since February 2022 when he first visited Australia as EAM. He would have meetings with the leadership of Australia in Sydney and would also attend the Raisina@Sydney Conference to be held in Australia for the first time.