Prime Minister Charlot Salwai was among the leaders of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) who attended the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.

The Third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum was held in Samoa from 20-21 October 2019, and attended by all eight PICs that have diplomatic relations with China.

These include: Vanuatu (1982); Cook Islands (1997); Federated States of Micronesia (1989); Fiji (1975); Niue (2007); Papua New Guinea (PNG 1976); Samoa (1975); Tonga (1998); the Solomon Islands and Kiribati (2019), as well as observers from the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand.

The Forum is led by China (Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua) and it will discuss mutually beneficial cooperation’s between China and the Pacific.

China is now the second-largest donor in the region, only after Australia and Vanuatu can use this forum to choose assistance in areas which will benefit the people of Vanuatu.

The forum has had sub-forum discussions on topics including: trade (e-commerce and trade in services), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, Tourism and Infrastructure Investment, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.

Vanuatu has supported development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and appreciated the positive progress attained by China and Pacific island countries in advancing mutually-beneficial economic and trade cooperation.

Vanuatu will continue to push for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, following the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, to realize mutually beneficial win-win outcomes that will benefit the peoples of Vanuatu and China.

It is also important for Vanuatu to attend to understand what China has to offer the Pacific Island countries and in which areas where China is able to assist and cooperate in with Vanuatu, for the benefit of the people of Vanuatu.

The first China Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum was held 2006 in Fiji. The second China‐Pacific Islands Countries Forum was held in Guangzhou, China, in 2013.

By Glenda Willie, Vanuatu Daily Post, 24 Oct 2019