Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has congratulated his newly-elected Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai.
In a congratulatory message to Salwai, Bainimarama said his appointment came at a challenging period in Vanuatu's history.
"On behalf of the government and people of Fiji, I extend to you our heartfelt congratulations on the election of your new government and I warmly congratulate you on your appointment as prime minister of the Republic of Vanuatu," Bainimarama said in the message, according to Fiji's Department of Information.
"Vanuatu and Fiji have a long and unique warm bilateral relationship and we have worked together closely on many areas of common interest both at sub-regional and regional level. Under your leadership, I look forward to continuing this and also growing our ties and taking our relations further for the mutual benefit of our two peoples," the Fijian prime minister added.
Salwai was elected on Thursday as Vanuatu's new prime minister by the country's newly-elected parliament, garnering votes of 46 of the total 52 MPs.