No political strings attached to China’s assistance in Fiji and the Pacific - China's President

There is no political strings attached to China’s assistance, no imposing one’s will onto others, and no empty promises and China has called on all countries to uphold Pacific Island countries autonomy in making decisions, putting development first, and staying open and inclusive when developing relations with the Pacific.

This was shared by China's President Xi Jinping during the meeting for Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

Jinping reiterated it’s policy on developing relations with Pacific Island Countries.

He says they fully respect the sovereignty and independence of Pacific Island Countries, fully respecting the ethnic and cultural traditions of the Pacific, and fully respecting Pacific Island Countries efforts to seek strength through unity.


Fiji's Assistant Foreign Minister Lenora Qereqeretabua says as Fiji and China get ready to celebrate their 50th Year anniversary, they will also share Fiji's common interest with China.

Qereqeretabua says the Fijian Government continues to deepen their comprehensive partnership with China, which is fully respects political, economic, cultural, and regional cooperation.



She says this principle fosters partnership and resolves challenges.

The meeting was chaired by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi of Niue, Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala of Tonga, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert of the Federated States of Micronesia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka of Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati of Vanuatu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana of the Cook Islands, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Russ Kun of Nauru, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Salusalu Qereqeretabua of Fiji, and Representative of the Samoan Government and Ambassador of Samoa to China Luamanuvae A. Mariner attended the meeting.

Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Esala Nayasi attended the meeting upon invitation on behalf of the Secretary General.

Nayasi says all parties had an in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus on China-Pacific Island Countries relations and issues of common interest.

He says all parties agreed on the importance of upholding humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, freedom, and respect for international law.

Jinping says countries, regardless of size, strength, and wealth, are all equal and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected.

He says every countries’ development paths are chosen by the people independently based on their respective national conditions and must be respected, and the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs must be observed. 

Jinping says all parties reaffirmed their mutual understanding and mutual support on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns and all parties recognize that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

China firmly opposes Taiwan independence in all forms and commits to realizing national reunification, which has gained wide understanding and support at the meeting and all parties stressed the authority of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758.

China firmly supports Pacific Island Countries in upholding their sovereignty and independence.

China welcomes more Pacific Island Countries to join the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, to help accelerate the implementation of the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

All parties called on the international community to provide Pacific Island Countries with more technological, financial and humanitarian support to help them achieve independent and sustainable development.

China stated that it will continue to support and assist Pacific Island Countries as it can in economic development and livelihood improvement.

More positive outcomes from the meeting from the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was that all parties agreed to continue to promote synergy between high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent to make greater contributions to regional prosperity and development.

All parties agreed to set cooperation priorities in accordance with each country’s national conditions within the China-Pacific Island Countries cooperation platforms and frameworks including on reserves of emergency supplies, climate action, poverty alleviation and development, disaster prevention and mitigation, Juncao technology, agriculture, and police training.


All parties agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such areas as education, culture, tourism, health and media, and expand sub-national exchanges. All parties agreed to explore the economic viability of additional direct flights to Pacific Island Countries.

All parties recognize the important role of trade in economic development of Pacific Island Countries and commit to further strengthening and enhancing their trade cooperation through supply side capacity building, trade promotion, and market access of Pacific Island Countries’ products into China.

All parties are ready to work together to make positive contributions to the peace, development and stability of the Pacific region. They remain firmly committed to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone and to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.

All parties are fully aware of the significance of the management and conservation of the Pacific Ocean and its resources to the sustainable development of Pacific Island Countries, and acknowledge the vulnerability of Pacific Island Countries in the face of the adverse impact of climate change.

All parties believe that the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities should be upheld, and agreed to jointly promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.