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Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Hon. Inia Seruiratu, earlier this week met with his Foreign Affairs counterpart of the People’s Republic of China, State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Wang Yi in Beijing.
Minister Seruiratu is leading a Parliamentary delegation to the 2019 International Seminar on the “Achievements of the SDG’s for Parliaments of Developing Countries” that is being held in Beijing from the 11th to the 14th of June, 2019. Minister Seruiratu in his capacity as Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs utilized this opportunity to accord a courtesy call on his counterpart.
The two Foreign Affairs Ministers discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen diplomatic relations. Minister Wang Yi said that China always adheres to the principles that all countries are equal despite its economic capacity or size.
In 2018, the two countries bilateral relations were strengthened to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening a new chapter of bilateral cooperation. China exercises its relations with Fiji in building mutual trust, common development and shared prosperity.
Some areas suggested by Minister Wang Yi to strengthen diplomatic relations include: (i) strengthen development strategy docking, jointly build and share, promote free trade cooperation, (ii) expand tourism and strengthen communication and coordination among multilateral mechanisms on climate change and other issues, (iii) jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and (iv) promote comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides so that the partnership continues to thrive into the future.
Minister Seruiratu thanked the People’s Republic of China for always being a true friend of Fiji. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, Fiji and China bilateral relations has been nothing short of impressive and has grown stronger over the years.
Fiji firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience and knowledge of developing our countries further. Fiji congratulated China on the successful hosting of the second “one belt and one road” International Cooperation Summit Forum in April 2019, and thanked China for its assistance to Fiji, over the years in the areas of Climate Change, Defence and Security, Engagement with Provinces, Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, and Education and People-to-Peoples Exchanges and Cooperation.
Fiji is ready to deepen cooperation with China and push Fiji-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. Fiji’s future engagement with China will be based around the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Fiji is signatory to since November 2018. Under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative and with the joint effort of both countries, the road to common development will be even wider.
