CHINA / National

    Aid package announced for South Pacific states
    (China Daily)
    Updated: 2006-04-06 06:01

    NADI, Fiji: China announced a wide-ranging package of economic aid to South Pacific island countries yesterday as part of efforts to strengthen relations.

    Besides 3 billion yuan (US$375 million) in preferential loans over the next three years, Beijing will grant zero-tariff treatment to goods from the islands, cancel their debt that matured at the end of 2005 and make the seven island states with diplomatic ties approved tourist destinations.

    Wen Jiabao,Fiji
    Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase (R) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao after a signing ceremony in Nadi, Fiji April 4, 2006 for bilateral agreements between the two countries.[Reuters]

    Premier Wen Jiabao made the announcement at the opening of the inaugural China-Pacific Islands economic development forum in Fiji. This is the first visit by a Chinese premier to the South Pacific.

    "China is not rich. Still, we are ready to provide assistance without any political strings attached," Wen said in a keynote speech at the forum.

    The country will also train 2,000 Pacific government officials and provide free anti-malaria medicines for the next three years.

    Fiji is the second leg of Wen's four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which earlier took him to Australia. He arrived in New Zealand late yesterday and then goes to Cambodia.

    "Our economies are complementary," Wen said. "China has funding and expertise. The island countries are rich in natural resources. Herein lies huge potential for bilateral co-operation."

    Wen said China's interest in the region was "not diplomatic expediency; rather, it is a strategic decision."

    The two-day forum was co-sponsored by China and Fiji.

    An economic development and co-operation framework between China and the Pacific Island countries (PIC) was signed yesterday, marking a milestone in China-PIC ties.

    The framework highlights a number of key sectors with scope for co-operation, including agriculture and fisheries, tourism and transportation, financial services, engineering and infrastructure.

    Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare, who is also the chairperson of the forum, said: "The framework will provide an impetus to trade between PIC and China, with an emphasis on stronger export performance from the forum island countries to China."

    According to Somare, Chinese investment in the Pacific islands is expected to increase to US$176.3 million by the end of this year, from US$113 million in 2004.

    China has a growing business presence in the Pacific. There are more than 3,000 Chinese State-owned and private enterprises, from mining ventures to restaurants.

    Other PIC members are Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa.

    Later yesterday, Wen flew to Wellington where New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark greeted him at the airport.

    (China Daily 04/06/2006 page1)

     
     

    中文字幕日韩欧美| 亚洲AV无码资源在线观看| 中文无码熟妇人妻AV在线| 一本无码中文字幕在线观| 日韩av无码中文无码电影| 无码国产精品一区二区免费模式| 中文精品久久久久国产网址| 亚洲国产综合无码一区二区二三区| 亚洲va中文字幕无码久久不卡 | 伊人久久无码精品中文字幕| 日本妇人成熟免费中文字幕| 久久久久久国产精品免费无码 | 蜜桃无码AV一区二区| а√在线中文网新版地址在线| 18禁网站免费无遮挡无码中文 | 潮喷大喷水系列无码久久精品| 老子午夜精品无码| 无码av高潮喷水无码专区线| 日韩精品久久无码人妻中文字幕 | 亚洲男人在线无码视频| A∨变态另类天堂无码专区| 中文字幕无码精品三级在线电影| 韩国三级中文字幕hd久久精品| 一本一道av中文字幕无码| 中文字幕无码播放免费| 一本之道高清无码视频| 亚洲AV无码成人精品区大在线| 久久精品无码av| 无码日韩人妻AV一区免费l| 日韩免费a级毛片无码a∨| 无码国产亚洲日韩国精品视频一区二区三区| 久久久无码精品亚洲日韩蜜臀浪潮| 无码人妻精品一区二区三区久久 | 亚洲AⅤ永久无码精品AA| 91久久精品无码一区二区毛片| 国产精品无码AV一区二区三区| 久久久久亚洲av无码专区喷水| 日韩精品人妻系列无码专区| HEYZO无码综合国产精品227| 日韩精品无码免费视频| 中文字幕人妻色偷偷久久|