31 Jul 2009

Fiji's inclusion in trade talks not ruled out

1:20 pm on 31 July 2009

The New Zealand Government says it is not opposed to the inclusion of Fiji in forthcoming regional trade talks.

Melanesian leaders have raised concerns about Fiji's apparent exclusion from the Pacer Plus talks.

The issue is bound to be raised at the next week's annual meeting of Pacific Island leaders in Australia.

Fiji was suspended from the forum at the start of the year.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is open to seeing Fiji included in the trade talks, provided the Commonwealth suspension resolution is not compromised.