FM Wang Yi meets Vanuatu's counterpart, calls for stronger ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Marc Ati in Xiamen, who is in China to attend the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to flourish.

Cooperation across various fields has yielded tangible results, setting a model of mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation for developing countries, he added.

Wang welcomed the new Vanuatu government's commitment to a friendly policy toward China since taking office in February, stressing that such a policy serves the fundamental interests of Vanuatu and enjoys broad bipartisan support.

Noting that China-Vanuatu relations are now at their historical best, the Chinese foreign minister called on both sides to seize this momentum by enhancing high-level exchanges and expanding practical cooperation.

China welcomes Vanuatu's increased exports of high-quality products to the Chinese market and will continue encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Vanuatu.

Wang expressed hope that negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement could start as soon as possible.

Noting that Pacific Island countries are all independent and sovereign nations, Wang said that they all have the right to independently choose their development paths and cooperation partners.

"They are no one's backyard," he said.

He underscored that the South Pacific should serve as a platform for international cooperation, not an arena for geopolitical rivalry.

China firmly supports Vanuatu's independence and autonomy and stands with Vanuatu in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and developing interests, Wang said.

For his part, Ati affirmed that China is a key development partner for Vanuatu. He expressed appreciation for China's longstanding support, which has improved the livelihoods of Vanuatu's people and strengthened the country's resilience and confidence in its development.

Reaffirming Vanuatu's firm commitment to the one-China policy, Ati expressed willingness to deepen the alignment of the two sides' development strategies, accelerate free trade agreement talks, and expand cooperation in education, infrastructure, health, and policing.

He added that Vanuatu looks forward to elevating its comprehensive strategic partnership with China to new heights and building a more prosperous future together.