Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui has said China
attaches great importance to its relationship with Pacific island
countries.
The ultimate goal of China's Pacific island policy is the
maintenance of the regional stability and the promotion of common
development, he said.
He was addressing a meeting between the 16-member Pacific
Islands Forum, the major inter-governmental organization to promote
cooperation in the region, and its dialogue partners on
Thursday.
He praised the progress PIF has made in regional cooperation and
pursuit of common development.
He also briefed the Forum members on China's stand on
conservation of resources, climate change, energy security and
sustainable development.
Zhang said the Chinese government will continue to carry out a
series of preferential policies in support of a more rapid
development of island countries, which were announced by Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao at the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic
Development and Cooperation Forum in Fiji, in April, 2006.
He said China is willing to strengthen the exchange and
cooperation with all the island countries in an effort to further
cement bilateral ties and contribute more to the prosperity and
stability in the region.
At the meeting, Forum members spoke highly of the generous
assistance China has provided to the region over the past many
years and expressed the hope for a further enhanced cooperation
with China.
PIF groups 16 member nations, namely Australia, Cook Islands,
Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of
Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)
