Pacific island nation looks for new trade opportunities beyond region

Fiji will make China a key part of its "Look North Policy", the country's prime minister told Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama is the first Pacific island nation leader to visit China since China's new leadership came into power. He also met President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

Bainimarama's Beijing visit precedes his official visit to Moscow next month. He will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin when he is there for the Rugby Sevens World Cup.

Fiji's Ministry of Information said the meetings underline the country's robust foreign policy, which is focusing on new opportunities beyond its traditional regional partners.

By making the visits, Fiji is turning to China and Russia amid strained regional ties, AFP reported. Fiji's relations with Australia and New Zealand have been strained since 2006 when Fiji went through political changes.

"China is a great country with broad development prospects. Fiji will make China a key point of its 'Look North Policy'," Bainimarama told Li during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, according to a news release from the Foreign Ministry.

Good friend

Bainimarama told Li on Wednesday that China has long trusted and respected his country, and thanked Beijing for help over the years in various areas including agriculture, fishery and infrastructure construction.

Li said China has always seen Fiji as a good friend and partner and would like to deepen the ties.

The two leaders agreed to beef up cooperation in areas including trade, investment and tourism.

Xi said in his meeting with Bainimarama earlier on Wednesday that China treasures its friendship with Fiji, respects the development path chosen by its people and will continue to provide assistance to Fiji within its capacity.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Fiji and other Pacific island nations, Xi said, adding Beijing supports Pacific island nations in playing an equal part in international affairs.

The visit shows "China's influence is growing in island nations in the South Pacific", Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post said last week.

Fiji is known as the hub of the Pacific islands region. It was the first among these nations to establish diplomatic relations with China.

China attended a meeting of G77 developing economies held in Fiji earlier this month and donated 20 Hongqi (red flag) limousines, a Chinese-made luxury car brand, to the meeting. Bainimarama test drove the cars himself.

A Chinese military delegation led by Major General Qian Lihua, director of the Foreign Affairs Office under the Ministry of National Defense, visited Fiji in January.

In September, then Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo also visited the island country.

Sandra Tarte, director of the Politics and International Affairs Program at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, wrote in an article published in 2011 titled "Fiji's search for new friends" that in 2010 China was the top destination for high-level visits from Fiji.