FIJI Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama received a guard of honour at the Penang International Airport upon his arrival last night as he flew in to attend the Asia Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-7).
On hand to welcome him and his entourage at the ceremonial reception were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was accompanied by state executive councillors Yeoh Soon Hin and Soon Lip Chee, and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
The permanent secretary in Prime Minister’s Office (Fiji) Yogesh Jitendara Karan was seen arriving together with Bainimarama.
The APUF-7 is organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in partnership with Urbanice Malaysia and UN-Habitat.
It will be held in Penang from Oct 15 to 17 at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre and will serve as a great platform to debate and conduct normative and analytical research on sustainable urban development.
Chow, Bainimarama, and all the other dignitaries had a friendly chat for about half an hour.
As a gesture of friendship between the two nations, Chow and Bainimarama exchanged gifts at the welcoming ceremony.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud