Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji

On May 16, 2017, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji, who was in China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

Xi Jinping pointed out that Fiji is the first Pacific Islands country to establish diplomatic relations with China. The two countries established a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common interests in 2014, which elevates China-Fiji relations to new highs. At present, both sides have constantly deepened political mutual trust, increasingly expanded practical cooperation, and further intensified people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China is willing to, together with Fiji, enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, in a bid to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that both sides should continue to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Fiji in such areas as trade, investment, agricultural technology and green development, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and establish business in Fiji as well as more Chinese tourists to travel to the country. Both sides should expand exchanges and coordination in education, culture and other areas, and continue to encourage and support exchanges and cooperation at local level. China is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with Fiji within the UN framework and maintain close communication and coordination on climate change and other major problems.

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama congratulated China on successfully holding the BRF, and expressed that Fiji supports the “Belt and Road” initiative, and looks forward to cooperating with China within the construction of the “Belt and Road” framework. Fiji-China relations have been developing vigorously since the establishment of bilateral relations 42 years ago. The country upholds the one-China policy, and hopes to, together with China, deepen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as trade, agriculture, infrastructure, and people-to-people and cultural engagement, and intensify coordination on climate change, sustainable development and other global issues.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.

(From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China)