China, Pacific Island nations deepen ties through BRI, tourism ahead of key foreign ministers' meeting

Earlier in May, a two-day China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) tourism exchange session took place in Nadi, Fiji's third-largest city. Officials and tourism professionals from China and 10 Pacific Island countries and regions – including Fiji and Vanuatu – gathered to discuss cooperation in tourism.

During the session, Adela Issachar Aru, chairperson of the Pacific Tourism Organization, highlighted China's role as a key source market for the Pacific region.

The session exemplifies the cooperation mechanisms between China and PICs, particularly following the first China-PICs Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in October 21, 2021.

The cooperation between the two sides is expected to further strengthened as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the third China-PICs Foreign Ministers' Meeting in southeast China's Xiamen City on May 27 and 28.

Noting that it is the first time the meeting will be held in person in China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that there will be an in-depth exchange of views on interactions and cooperation between China and PICs in all aspects, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest.

China and PICs have in recent years been committed to strengthening political mutual trust to safeguard regional stability and promoting economic and trade development with comprehensive cooperation.

So far, China has so far established diplomatic relations with 11 PICs. Nauru resumed its diplomatic tie with China in January 2024 and became the 183rd country with diplomatic ties with China.

Multiple leaders of PICs having diplomatic ties with China have visited China in recent years. In 2024 alone, leaders of PICs including Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia visited China.

While both sides have been strengthening political mutual trust, China and PICs have expanded mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts, such as bilateral trade and investment and cooperation in ocean affairs and climate change.

From 1992 to 2021, the total trade volume between China and Pacific island countries having diplomatic relations with China registered an average annual increase of 13 percent and expanded by over 30 times, according to a position paper issued after the second China-PICs Foreign Ministers' Meeting in May 2022.

In 2024, the total import and export volume between China and the 11 PICs having diplomatic relations with China reached $6.3 billion, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

In addition, Beijing has signed memorandums of understanding on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation with all of the 11 Pacific Island Countries having diplomatic relations with it, according to Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, Liu Weimin.

China has rolled out at least 500 aid projects to help Pacific Island countries build roads, bridges, ports, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, and trained over 10,000 professionals, Liu added.

Among them, the Independence Boulevard in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Malakula island highway in Vanuatu and Vaipua Bridge in Tonga have stood out as strong examples of BRI cooperation between two sides, which greatly improved local development and brought tangible benefits to local residents.

China has also enhanced cooperation with PICs in areas including disaster prevention, climate change and poverty reduction.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in December 2021, the China-Pacific Island Countries Reserve for Emergency Supplies was launched in south China's Guangdong Province and in April 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center was launched in east China's Shandong Province.

In 2001, the first China-aided overseas Juncao demonstration base was founded in PNG. Chinese experts have been promoting and carrying out training and demonstration of Juncao technology used in mushroom cultivation and livestock breeding in the Eastern Highlands.

PNG newspaper Post Courier reported that Juncao technology has been introduced to nine provinces and 17 districts in the country, benefiting more than 45,000 households.

Henry Puna, former secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, said at the second China-PICs Foreign Ministers' Meeting that China, being an important dialogue and development partner of Pacific Island countries, has made indispensable contributions to the development of island countries for a long time.

The two sides have also witnessed booming people-to-people and cultural exchanges in past years.

For example, Liaocheng Vocational and Technical College in east China's Shandong Province has been engaged in practical cooperation with Kiribati in the field of vocational education in recent years. The cooperation has won praise from the Embassy of the Republic of Kiribati to China, which sent a letter of thanks to the college in 2024 for its contribution to the cultivation of highly skilled talent in the Pacific Island country.