Chinese president pledges continued assistance to Fiji

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds talks with Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama in Nadi, Fiji, Nov. 22, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

NADI, Fiji, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged here Saturday that China will continue to help Fiji develop economy, improve people's livelihood and tackle climate change.

China stands ready to work with Fiji to step up exchanges, cooperation and advance bilateral relations, Xi said at a meeting with Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama during his first state visit to the Pacific island country.

China views Fiji as an important cooperative partner among the Pacific island countries, respects the development path the Fijian people have chosen and appreciates Fiji's efforts to prioritize developing ties with China in its Look North Policy, Xi said.

"We are willing to maintain exchanges with Fiji at high levels and different other levels and strengthen bilateral cooperation," Xi said.

The president noted that Fiji enjoys convenient transportation, abounds in agricultural, forestry, fishery and mining resources, and pushes for "green growth," while China has advantages in capital, technology and market.

"The two sides should give play to complementary advantages and lift the level of cooperation," he said.

China welcomes more Fijian competitive products to enter China, supports Fiji in tapping China's tourism market and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Fiji, Xi said.

"The Chinese side will, just as always, continue to help Fiji develop economy, improve people's livelihood and well implement its projects of small hydropower plants, agricultural development, highway renovation and bridge construction in the country," Xi said, "China will continue to support and assist Fiji in dealing with climate change."

China will open a Chinese culture center in Fiji, continue to dispatch medical teams and artists groups to Fiji to boost people-to-people exchanges, Xi said.

China appreciates Fiji's efforts to help the Chinese government chase fugitives and illegal assets, and hopes continuously strengthen bilateral law enforcement cooperation, he said.

"The Chinese side is willing to work with Fiji to hold a successful leaders meeting between China and Pacific island countries, and pushes for an in-depth development of the relations between China and these states," he added.

For his part, Bainimarama said that the Fijian people have a friendly feeling toward China and appreciate China's support and assistance.

Fiji and China share a solid foundation of their relations and enjoy broad cooperation in a wide range of areas, he said.

Fiji values its traditional friendship with China, and being a good partner of China is always the starting point of Fiji' diplomacy strategy toward China, said the prime minister.

Fiji hopes to keep political contacts with China, expand trade and economic cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges so as to promote Fiji's economic and social development, he said.

Fiji welcomes China to actively participate in the Pacific island countries affairs, he added.

After their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation deals between the two governments, involving economic and technological cooperation and visa exemption, among other.