Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama hosted a welcoming reception for regional leaders at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly held in New York.

A government statement says in attendance was New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.

Bainimarama praised New Zealand and Australia for their support towards Fiji’s COP23 Presidency and the assistance given during Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He urged the leaders that the UN General Assembly has an important role to play in creating spaces as leaders and friends from other regions and formally interact, share experiences to develop relationships that will help them develop a common objective.