China to elevate ties with Pacific Island countries

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with leaders from eight Pacific Island countries that have diplomatic ties with China in Papua New Guinea later this week, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said on Tuesday at a press briefing about Xi's upcoming overseas trip.

The eight Pacific Island countries are Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga and Niue.

Xi's meeting with the leaders of these island countries is part of his week-long Pacific tour, which will begin on Thursday. The Chinese president is scheduled to pay state visits to Papua New Guinea, Brunei and the Philippines from November 15 to 21 and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting from November 17 to 18 in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech during a group meeting with leaders of eight Pacific Island countries in Nadi, Fiji, November 22, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

"This visit will help further elevate China's relations with the Pacific Island countries, inject strong vitality for exchange and cooperation between the two sides in a wide range of areas," Zheng noted.

He described the Pacific Island countries as important members of the "Asia-Pacific family" as well as an important part of the developing world.

During Xi's visit to Fiji in November 2014, China and the eight countries agreed to establish a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. Relations between China and these countries have entered a "fast track" since then, according to Zheng.

A photo exhibition features 100 pictures on China and Papua New Guinea's landscapes, cultures and society, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, November 12, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

In 2017, total trade between China and the Pacific Island countries reached 7.25 billion US dollars, he said, adding that China has become an important trading partner, export market and source of foreign capital for these countries. Total investment by Chinese companies in these countries has exceeded three billion US dollars, said the vice foreign minister.

About 100,000 Chinese tourists make the Pacific Island countries the first stop of their overseas travel annually, and there are over 1,200 students from these countries studying in China, he told reporters.

During Xi's stay in Papua New Guinea, the Chinese president will announce a range of measures to support the development of the Pacific Island countries and China's cooperation with them, Zheng revealed.

This will be the first visit by a Chinese head of state to PNG.

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, November 10, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

'Market openness is a must for Asia-Pacific cooperation'

Zhang Jun, China's assistant foreign minister, briefed reporters at the APEC meeting, stressing that "market openness is a must for Asia-Pacific cooperation."

Participating APEC members will focus on regional economic integration, the digital economy, build a consensus and issue a leaders' Declaration.

China hopes the meeting can promote the building of a free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region and deliver results in trade and investment liberalization and business facilitation to counter unilateralism and protectionism, he said.

Regarding possible outcomes of World Trade Organization reform during the APEC meetings, officials said trade is an important engine of economic development, adding that APEC economies have made important contributions to supporting multilateralism and building an open world economy.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. It currently has 21 member economies, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (6th L, front) poses for a family photo with other leaders attending the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, in Da Nang, Vietnam, November 10, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The theme of the ongoing APEC Leaders' Week from November 12 to 18 is "Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future."

Xi will visit Brunei and the Philippines in Southeast Asia from November 18 to 21 after leaving Papua New Guinea, according to Kong Xuanyou, another vice foreign minister of China.

Kong said this year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-Brunei strategic cooperative relationship, while political trust between Beijing and Manila has been enhanced in recent years.

Cooperation documents in various areas are expected to be signed between China and Brunei and between China and the Philippines during Xi's visits, he noted.

(CGTN's Su Yuting also contributed to the story)