Australian naval vessel visits Fiji to renew maritime security partnership

A Royal Australian Navy vessel has arrived in Fiji to "renew maritime security partnership", the government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported Tuesday.

This is the first time for an Australian naval vessel to visit Fiji in eight years after defense ties between the two neighbor countries resumed following Fiji's first general election held in September last year since 2006.

"As part of its regional engagement, the vessel will carry out seabed mapping operations with the Fiji Hydrographic Office. Sixty- five crew members including surveyors on board the HMAS Leeuwin will spend a month in the country," said the FBC.

In addition, Fiji's military forces via the naval division and the Royal Australian Navy are expected to undergo combined training exercises in fighting a fire or flood in a ship and broader defense activities.

The visit builds on talks between Fiji and Australia's defense officials last December on the renewed maritime security partnership between the two countries. Endi