China has signed a landmark Framework Agreement on Enhanced Economic Partnership with five Pacific Island nations: Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Vanuatu and Fiji.

The deal covers trade in goods and services, investment, rules-based cooperation and deeper integration into global industry chains. For Pacific Island economies, it means access to China's vast market and support for industrial and agricultural modernization. For China, it marks a step forward in building a high-standard, open free-trade network.