Fijian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama Holds Talks with Wang Yi

On May 30, 2022 local time, Fijian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama held talks with visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Suva.

Bainimarama warmly congratulated the Communist Party of China on its centenary last year and on China's continuous modernization and growing international influence under the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping. He said that over the past 47 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Fiji and China have carried out mutually beneficial cooperation based on common aspirations and guided by common interests, and have always adhered to mutual friendship. Fiji will always remember that China always respects Fiji's sovereignty and stands firmly with Fiji. Fiji will continue to firmly support the one-China principle and is ready to expand cooperation with China in various fields, such as infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, capacity building and sustainable development, and strengthen the Fiji-China partnership.

Bainimarama spoke highly of and supported the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, believing that it will inject strong impetus into the post-pandemic recovery at a faster pace. He said that the current turbulent and changing international situation has increased interdependence among countries, and all countries should strengthen cooperation to better cope with global challenges.

Wang Yi said that China-Fiji relations have withstood the test of the volatile international landscape. The two countries trust and support each other and always lend each other a helping hand at the first opportunity. The more volatile and complex the international landscape becomes, the more important it is for China and Fiji to carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance strategic mutual trust, uphold the common interests of the two countries, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and regional peace and stability. China is Fiji's reliable friend and partner. We firmly support Fiji in maintaining social stability and ethnic unity, pursuing an independent foreign policy, accelerating development and revitalization, and playing a more important role in regional and international affairs. Fiji is welcome to take an active part in the GDI to build greater synergy and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Wang Yi said that last year, China-Fiji trade volume bucked the trend and grew by more than 30 percent, fully demonstrating the huge potential of bilateral cooperation. China is ready to enhance the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Fiji's 20-Year National Development Plan to help Fiji speed up its post-pandemic recovery, continue to deepen cooperation on people's livelihood, create more quality projects and implement Juncao technology cooperation projects. China is willing to expand imports of Fiji's competitive and special products and encourage more capable Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Fiji to help Fiji enhance its capacity for self-generated development.

The two sides look forward to co-hosting and promoting the success of the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Wang Yi introduced that China has launched the China-Pacific Island Countries reserve of emergency supplies and will work with island countries to build six new cooperation platforms for poverty reduction and development, climate change response, disaster prevention and mitigation, agricultural cooperation and Juncao technology center. Bainimarama highly appreciated China's active implementation of the outcomes of the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting and thanked China for its strong support for the island countries in achieving sustainable development and strengthening their resilience against climate change.

The two sides also exchanged views on the current international and regional situation and agreed to jointly advocate and uphold multilateralism, maintain the international system with the United Nations at its core and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Following the talks, the two sides jointly attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents on climate change response, Juncao planting and disaster prevention and mitigation. On the same day, Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere met with Wang Yi.