Fijian Vice President Joni Madraiwiwi and Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase met with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in the Fijian
capital Suva on Friday. Both sides spoke highly of the development
of bilateral relations.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations over 30 years
ago, the China-Fiji relations have progressed steadily and seen a
frequent exchange of high-level visits and a deepening of political
mutual trust, Li said, according to reports reaching Wellington
from Suva.
Bilateral cooperation in such fields as economics and trade,
culture and education has been fruitful and both countries have
maintained good coordination in regional and international affairs,
Li added.
Madraiwiwi and Qarase said that the China-Pacific Island
Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum which was
successfully held in April provided a good platform for China and
Pacific island countries to reinforce their economic and trade
cooperation.
They expressed their appreciation for China's support for and
assistance in their country's construction over the past years.
Fiji is willing to broaden the mutual beneficial cooperation
with China in such fields as agriculture, trade, investment and
tourism, they said.
The Fijian leaders also reiterated their country's adherence to
the one-China policy.
Also on Friday, Li met his Fijian counterpart Kaliopate Tavola
and the two exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as
regional and international issues of common concern.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)
