Spotlight: China reaffirms friendship, cooperation with Pacific island countries

NADI, Fiji, Nov. 22 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's traditional friendship with Pacific island countries Saturday, pledging continued support and assistance to those countries in developing economy, building infrastructural facilities and tackling climate change.

While holding separate meetings with leaders of some Pacific island countries that have diplomatic ties with China, Xi, who is on his first state visit to Fiji, sent clear signals of enhancing bilateral friendly cooperation.

China believes that all countries are equal members of the international community irrespective of their size, strength and wealth, and they should respect each other, treat each other on an equal footing and help each other with sincerity, Xi told Emanuel Mori, president of the Federated States of Micronesia.

China respects the development path the Micronesian people have chosen themselves and is willing to maintain exchanges with Micronesia at different levels, Xi said.

He said that China stands ready to strengthen exchanges with Micronesia on governance experience, consolidate cooperation in fishery, new energy, infrastructure construction, economy and technology, and boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he said.

China supports the effort of Micronesia to address climate change, he added.

Mori said that the Micronesia-China relationship has made considerable progress since the establishment of diplomatic ties 25 years ago, and the bilateral cooperation has greatly boosted Micronesia's economic development and people's livelihood.

Micronesia will remain committed to the One China policy and hopes to enhance political, economic, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation with China, he said.

Micronesia appreciates China's recent publication of post-2020 actions on climate change and thanks China for its understanding and support for small island countries' concerns, he added.

While meeting with Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa, Xi said that China establishes strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development with the Pacific island countries, which also gives a clear direction for China-Samoa relations.

China appreciates Samoa's firm position on the One China policy, Xi said.

Samoa boasts rich resources in agriculture, fishery and tourism, and China possesses advantages in capital, technology and market, therefore, the two sides should fully tap into their potentials for cooperation, he said.

China is willing to help Samoa develop clean energy and tackle climate change, he added.

Tuilaepa said that the Samoa-China relationship has made steady progress on the basis of mutual trust and respect.

Samoa hopes China will continue to support its nation-building and is willing to actively participate in the economic development and cooperation forum between China and the Pacific island countries, he said.

During the meeting with Peter O'Neill, prime minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Xi said that Papua New Guinea has the largest territory, the largest number of population and the largest potential for development among the Pacific island countries.

He said that both China and Papua New Guinea are developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region and share lots of common interests.

China regards Papua New Guinea as an important cooperative partner among the Pacific island countries and stands ready to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fishery, infrastructure construction and energy resources, and strengthen coordination and cooperation on the Asia-Pacific affairs and the Pacific island country affairs as well.

O'Neill said that China plays an important role in boosting Papua New Guinea's economic and social development, and Papua New Guinea welcomes Chinese businesses to invest in the country.

China is a strategic partner of the Pacific island countries, and Papua New Guinea actively supports those countries' friendly cooperation with China, he said.

While meeting Joe Natuman, prime minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Xi said that Vanuatu is very influential among the Pacific island countries.

China appreciates Vanuatu's efforts to prioritize the development of its ties with China in its foreign policy, and firmly supports Vanuatu's efforts to safeguard its own rights and interests and develop national economy, Xi said.

Vanuatu has unique advantages in agriculture and fishery and China hopes Vanuatu will enlarge exports to China by taking full advantage of the zero-tariff policy offered by Chinese side, Xi said.

China is willing to continue to help Vanuatu with personnel training, tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development, the president said.

Natuman said that China is a true friend of the Pacific island countries and the support and assistance offered by the Chinese side to Vanuatu are very timely, adding that Vanuatu thanks China for helping train its first doctoral student in history.

Not long ago, China's Peace Ark hospital ship visited Vanuatu and the staff aboard offered medical services to local people, which conveyed the friendship, Natuman said.

Vanuatu hopes to cement economic, trade cooperation and people-to-people, cultural exchanges with China, he added.

While meeting with Henry Puna, prime minister of the Cook Islands, Xi said that China appreciates its firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and China's major concerns.

China stands ready to enhance cooperation with the Cook Islands in such areas as fishery and mining, he said.

The president urged the early completion of a water supply project in the Cook Islands, which is a trilateral cooperation project of China, New Zealand and the Cook Islands, so as to let it benefit local residents.

China is considering opening a Confucius Institute in the country to boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Xi added.

Puna said that China respects and treats Cook Islands on an equal footing, and helps the country develop agriculture, build infrastructural facilities and improve people's livelihood.

The Cook Islands hopes to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height and will continue to firmly support China on issues concerning Taiwan, he said.

The Cook Islands also hopes China continues to support and participate in its economic and social development, and welcomes Chinese citizens for sight-seeing in the country, he added.

While meeting with Siale'ataongo Tu'ivakano, prime minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Xi said that the China-Tonga friendly exchanges date back to a long time ago, and China values its friendship with Tonga and supports its efforts to maintain domestic stability, advance economic and social reforms and promote sustainable development.

He said that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Tonga in infrastructure construction, people's livelihood, personnel training and other areas, and help Tonga tackle climate change within the framework of the South-South cooperation.

Tu'ivakano said that the Tonga-China relationship has made steady progress on the basis of mutual respect, and Tonga hopes to, with the assistance of China, overcome the difficulties brought by the global financial crisis, promote economic recovery and growth, and improve people's living standard.

While meeting with Toke Talagi, prime minister of Niue, Xi said that the China and Niue have developed a sound relationship, and China is wiling to expand friendly exchanges with Niue, enhance cooperation in fishery, infrastructure construction and medical and health services, to help accelerate Niue's development.

Talagi said that China's policies on the Pacific island countries are conducive to those countries' sustainable development and enjoy a popular support among the islands people.

Niue thanks China for its positive efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction, which are substantial support for small island countries to tackle climate change.

The Chinese president and the leaders of the Pacific island countries also witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation agreements.

Xi arrived in Nadi Friday for a state visit to Fiji. Fiji is the last stop of his three-nation South Pacific tour, which has taken him to Australia and New Zealand.