NADI, Fiji -- The first Ministerial Meeting of the China-Pacific Island
Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum opened here Wednesday
morning.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Papua New
Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare and heads of state or government of some
other island countries attended the opening ceremony.
Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao (C) sits with Pacific Island leaders during the opening of the
China-Pacific Islands Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum
in Nadi, Fiji April 5, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Speaking at the opening ceremony,
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated the convention of the first ministerial
meeting of the Forum. The Chinese premier said it is a strategic decision, not a
diplomatic expediency, for China to foster 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 some measures China has decided to take to meet the current needs
of economic development of Pacific island countries, including:
-- To provide RMB 3 billion yuan of 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 became mature at the end of 2005 and extend
by ten years the payment of debts contracted by other island countries that
became mature 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. Thus, all the seven island
countries having diplomatic ties with China are now approved tourist
destinations for Chinese citizens.
Ministers of China and 10 Pacific island countries, namely Australia, the
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Tonga and Vanuatu, participated in the meeting.