The first Ministerial Meeting of the China-Pacific Island
Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum opened in
Nadi, Fiji, on Wednesday morning.?
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao conveyed his congratulations to organizers of the
inaugural event. Wen said it is a decision of strategy and not
merely of diplomatic expediency that China is fostering friendship
and cooperation with the Pacific island countries.?
He also expressed confidence that the forum, a landmark event in
the relations between China and Pacific island countries, will set
a new model for South-South cooperation.?
Wen listed measures China has decided to implement to meet the
current needs of economic development of the Pacific island
countries, including:?
-
To provide?3 billion yuan (about US$374 million) in
preferential loans in the next three years to boost
cooperation;?
-
To give zero-tariff treatment to the majority of exports to
China from the least developed countries in the region that have
diplomatic ties with China. China will cancel their debts that
accrued at the end of 2005. For others, China will extend by?a
10-year repayment period for debts that accrued at the end of
2005;?
-
To provide training to 2,000 government officials and
technical staff from the island countries over the next three years
to assist them in capacity building;
-
To formally approve Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Federated
States of Micronesia as destinations for Chinese tourists. This
addition means that all seven island countries with diplomatic ties
with China are now approved tourist destinations for Chinese
citizens.?
Another highlight of the first day of the forum was an agreement
entered into by China and the Pacific island countries to work for
the establishment of a partnership of economic and trade
cooperation on the basis of equality, complementarity, mutual
benefit and respect.
The agreement was contained in a document titled "The
China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation
Guiding Framework."
Ministers from China and 10 Pacific island countries, namely
Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, New Zealand, Niue,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, are attending the
two-day forum.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2006)
