Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a keynote speech "Win-win
Cooperation for Common Development" at the opening of the First
Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries
Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Nadi, Fiji, on
Wednesday.
Wen said it is a strategic decision, not a diplomatic
expediency, for China to foster friendship and cooperation with the
Pacific island countries.
China firmly adheres to the path of peaceful development and
pursues a policy of peace, development and cooperation in
international affairs.
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 Premier Wen.
Politically, China maintains that all countries, whether big or
small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the
international community and should treat each other as such.
China respects the social systems of the Pacific island
countries and the development strategy they have adopted based on
their national conditions and their efforts in safeguarding
sovereignty and independence and preserving peace and stability in
the region.
Economically, China shares the joy over the achievements of the
Pacific island countries and is keenly aware of the difficulties
they face in their development endeavor.
Wen said China is committed to implementing the UN Millennium
Development Goals and helping the Pacific island countries improve
capacity for self-development. China is ready to provide assistance
without any political strings attached to the Pacific island
countries to the best of its ability.
In international affairs, China strives to uphold the rights and
interests of the developing countries, including the Pacific island
countries, said the Chinese premier.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China supports
the Pacific island countries in pursuing their legitimate interests
regarding maritime resources exploration and protection, climate
change and other issues and their right to equal participation in
regional and international affairs.
Wen promised to offer three billion yuan (about US$374 million)
of preferential loans in the next three years to boost cooperation
between the business communities of China and the Pacific island
countries.
Wen said the move is made as part of efforts to meet the current
need of the Pacific Island countries.
He said the preferential loans will be used to strengthen
cooperation in development of resources, agriculture, forestry,
fishery, tourism, textiles and consumer products manufacturing.
The premier added that the preferential loans will also be used
to develop telecommunications, aviation and ocean shipping.
He said the Chinese government will also set up a special fund
to encourage Chinese companies to invest in the Pacific island
countries.
The premier also announced that to support the Pacific island
countries in developing their economy and ease their debt burden,
China will 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.
Wen said China will provide free anti-malaria medicines to the
island countries affected by the disease in the next three years to
help them to treat malaria.
China will continue to send medical teams to the island
countries and conduct annual training courses for health officials,
hospital managers and medical researchers of these countries, he
added.
Wen said China is also ready to exchange information on bird flu
prevention and control, and cooperate with the island countries in
various ways in this field.
He added that China will 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 accelerate the development of tourism of the Pacific island
countries, Wen said, China has decided to formally approve Papua
New Guinea, Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia as
destinations for Chinese tourists.
Thus, all the seven island countries having diplomatic ties with
China are now approved tourist destinations for Chinese
citizens.
Wen said China will provide assistance in building an earthquake
or tsunami early warning and monitoring network in light of the
need of the island countries to improve their capability of
managing earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters.
Premier Wen arrived here Tuesday for an official visit to the
Republic of the Fiji Islands, the first official visit by a Chinese
premier to the South Pacific island country.
Fiji is the second leg of Premier Wen's four-nation Asia-Pacific
tour, which has taken him to Australia and will take him to New
Zealand and Cambodia.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2006)
