Fiji, New Zealand to strengthen defense ties

New Zealand and Fiji are going to strengthen defense ties, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Wednesday.

McCully, who was paying a visit to Fiji, met Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Fijian Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola as well as other members of the Fijian cabinet on Wednesday in Suva.

During the meetings, it was decided that 20 officers from New Zealand's disciplined forces will visit Fiji in the coming months, according to McCully.

The two countries need to strengthen defense ties and start planning joint initiatives, McCully said.

"This is the opportunity for our annual foreign policy talks. We look at what we're doing in the relationship and how we can expand the depth of our cooperations. Both the prime minister and the foreign minister have been talking about expanding the relationship," McCully told reporters.

With stronger defense ties, McCully said, New Zealand and Fiji are able to "use our aircraft and troops together" when there is a crisis or catastrophe somewhere in the region.

Since Fiji's 2014 general election, relations between the Pacific island country and its traditional partners including Australia and New Zealand have been thawing out.