CHINA / Wen in Fiji
China-Pacific island countries forum closes
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-06 10:43
NADI, Fiji -- The first Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific
Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum closed here
Thursday.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Papua
New Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare, Vanuatu Prime Minister Ham
Lini, President of Micronesia Joseph J. Urusemal, Prime Minister of Tonga
Feleti Sevele, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Jim Marurai, Premier of
Niue M.Y. Vivian and Samoa Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labor Hans
Joachim Keil attended the opening of the Forum conference on Wednesday.
In his keynote speech "Win-win Cooperation for Common Development,"
Premier Wen said it is a strategic decision, not a diplomatic expediency
for China to foster friendship and cooperation with the Pacific island
countries.
China is committed to "promoting peace and development through
cooperation," and will continue to strengthen its friendship and
cooperation with the Pacific island countries on the basis of the Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, said Wen.
He listed some measures China has decided to take to meet the current
needs of economic development of Pacific island countries, which include
providing RMB 3 billion yuan (about 371 million U.S. dollars) of
preferential loans in the next three years to boost cooperation, giving
zero-tariff treatment to the majority of exports to China from the least
developed countries in the region that have diplomatic ties with China,
and making all the seven island countries that have diplomatic ties with
China tourist destinations for Chinese citizens.
The heads of State and Government also witnessed the signing of the
China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation
Guiding Framework aimed at deepening friendship and cooperation between
China and the Pacific island countries.
After the signing of the Framework, the ministers, heads of delegations,
high-level officials and entrepreneurs from the business communities of
China and the Pacific island countries went into panel discussions to
explore ways of cooperation in such fields as tourism and transportation,
trade and investment, agriculture, forestry and fishery.
During the two-day meeting, a series of cooperation agreements and
documents were signed, including the Agreement on Establishing the
China-Fiji Islands Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission, Y12IV
aircraft Lease-purchase Contract between China and Fiji, the MOU on CDMA
System Cooperation between IPBC of Papua New Guinea and Huawei of China,
and the Supplementary Agreement on Setting up a Floating Fishing Wharf
between China and Vanuatu.
The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and
the Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Australia and
New Zealand also sent ministers and officials to the meeting.
The meeting decided that the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the
China-Pacific Island Countries Economic and Cooperation Forum, which will
examine and assess the achievements of the first conference, will be held
in Beijing.
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