Pacific summit: Suva near to bursting as PIF meeting turns Fiji’s pandemic bust to boom

The Fijian capital Suva has sprung back to life after a long isolation from international visitors during the pandemic. Photograph: Rob Rickman/The Guardian

With the biggest regional event in years in town, there’s a buzz on the streets of the Fijian capital that hasn’t been felt since Covid slammed international borders shut in 2020.

The 51st Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting might be off to a somewhat rocky start with the withdrawal of member state Kiribati, but Suva is booked solid as hundreds of delegates and journalist converge for the event.