Chinese ambassador: Pacific nations want China's aid

World
Europe

The Chinese ambassador to Australia has slammed recent allegations by an Australian government minister about China's aid to Pacific island countries as "both groundless and irresponsible."

Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, minister for international development and the Pacific, told The Australian newspaper last week that China was lending to the region on unfavorable terms to construct "useless buildings" and "roads to nowhere."

But Ambassador Cheng Jingye, in a signed article titled "Pacific nations want China's aid – just ask them" published Friday in Australia's Financial Review, said the comments reeked of bias.

Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye /VCG Photo

"No one knows better than the people and governments of the Pacific island countries about whether China's assistance is productive or not," he said.

"We urge relevant Australian officials and certain sections of the media to abandon their bias, bigotry and narrow mindsets, stop pointing fingers at and making irresponsible remarks on China's sincere assistance to the Pacific island countries."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang had previously said that Fierravanti-Wells' published comments "show scant regard for the facts and are nothing but irresponsible," adding that China had made an official complaint to the Australian government.

A bus goes through the Stinson Parade Bridge during the opening ceremony for China-aided Stinson Parade Bridge and Vatuwaqa Bridge projects, in Suva, Fiji, on Jan. 11. /Xinhua Photo‍

"In providing foreign aid, the Chinese government always attaches no political strings, and fully respects the wishes and needs of the recipient countries… All relevant projects have been conducted with careful feasibility studies and market research, so that they deliver the desired economic and social benefits," Cheng wrote.

"Based on the above-mentioned principles and considerations, China has provided Pacific island countries with a large amount of aid over the years," he said, adding that China's aid has significantly promoted economic and social development of these countries and delivered tangible benefits to the local people that had been widely welcomed and fully appreciated by governments and people.

The ambassador stressed at the end of the article that China will continue to provide the Pacific island countries with necessary support and assistance and pursue common development with them jointly.