13 Feb 2014

Australian minister visiting Fiji

9:41 pm on 13 February 2014

Australia is moving a step closer to normalising its relationship with Fiji.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Photo: AAP

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is travelling to Fiji on Friday for the meeting of the Ministerial Contact Group of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Ms Bishop is scheduled to hold talks with Fijian counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and interim-Prime Minister and coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama with the aim of stepping closer to full relations, the ABC reports.

A formal restoration of ties is not expected before elections are held.

New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully says New Zealand and Australia are generally in agreement on the issue and it is a matter of timing to phase in changes.