Samoa and Australia Government officials celebrated the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ bilateral relations on Monday night with leaders toasting to the two nations' continued success.

The Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and his Masiofo, Her Highness Faamausili Leinafo Tuimalealiifano joined Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and Australia’s High Commissioner, Emily Luck as well as members of the diplomatic corps at the official residence of the High Commissioner at Tiapapata for a two-hour reception.

Samoa established diplomatic relations with Australia in 1971, just nine years after Samoa became the first Pacific islands territory to gain independence from New Zealand.

In her address on Monday night, Ms Luck highlighted the years of friendship between the two countries and made reference to Samoa’s foundation years and the growing number of Australian citizens with Samoan heritage.

"In 1971 Samoa was nine years into independence having led the way for the Pacific in 1962," she said.

"The people of Australia and the Pacific value their mobility, we are explorers. Over 75,000 Australians identify as having Samoan ancestry and many continue to maintain a strong connection with their families in Samoa.

"Similarly there are many living in Samoa [...] maintain close connections with Australia. Whether they are Australian by birth or continue to have family connections.

"We know the last two years have been very hard on those living here with family abroad and vice versa."

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on normal life in Samoa was also not lost on the Australian diplomat who lamented families being unable to celebrate milestones or reunions.

She said a photo exhibition to mark 50 years of the Samoa-Australia bilateral relationship pointed to the deep friendship between the two nations.

"In the early photos, you would have seen infrastructure collaboration with Australian engineers working together with Samoan counterparts,” said Ms Luck.

“The collaboration continues today with the completion in 2019 of the new parliament house and is soon to commence construction of the legislative assembly office," she said.

Both building projects incorporated climate resilience into their designs according to Ms Luck.

"Thank you Samoa for 50 incredible years of friendship," she said.

Prime Minister Fiame, in response to the High Commissioner, said the 50 years was an important milestone in the two nation’s relationship.

"As the Samoa-Australian diplomatic relations reaches its 50th year, we should take the opportunity to overcome shared challenges to take our partnerships to new heights," she said.

The Prime Minister said that for the Samoa Government, the day was about 50 years of strengthened relations in all spheres, where both countries had shared goals as well as the commitment as partners and recognition of each other’s sovereignties.

And despite the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, Fiame said both countries see a future with mutually beneficial opportunities for their partnership including addressing climate change.

According to Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (D.F.A.T.) documentation, estimated Australian aid to Samoa in 2021-2022 is approximately AUD$39.7 million. Some of the program highlights include $10.5 million to support Samoa's health response and economic recovery through Australia's COVID-19 Support Package; the facilitating of training for Samoan health sector professionals to understand COVID-19-related fields (including surveillance and pathology) under the Samoa Health Program; and 35 students (including 13 women) completing tertiary institution programs in Australia through the Australia Awards Program in 2019-2020.