The third China–Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held from May 28 to 29 in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign ministers or senior representatives from the 11 Pacific Island countries that have diplomatic relations with China, as well as Deputy Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Esala Nayasi, will attend the meeting upon invitation.
At a regular press conference on May 21, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the meeting will feature in-depth discussions on comprehensive China–Pacific cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern. China hopes to use the meeting as an opportunity to fully implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and the Pacific Island countries, further enhance solidarity and collaboration, promote shared development and prosperity, and jointly build a closer China–Pacific community with a shared future.
Mao emphasized that China has always attached great importance to its relations with Pacific Island countries. In recent years, friendly cooperation between the two sides has continuously deepened and expanded, yielding positive results. The convening of this meeting fully reflects the high level of mutual trust and growing closeness between China and the Pacific Island countries, and is expected to inject more stability and positive energy into regional peace and development.
The participants of this meeting include:
- Taneti Maamau, President and Foreign Minister of Kiribati
- Dalton Tagelagi, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Niue
- Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Crown Prince and Foreign Minister of Tonga
- Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Nauru
- Lorin Robert, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia
- Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands
- Marc Ati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade of Vanuatu
- Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea
- Tingika Elikana, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Cook Islands
- Lenora Qereqeretabua, Deputy Speaker and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji
- Luamanuvae Mariner, Ambassador of Samoa to China
- Esala Nayasi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum
During the meeting, participants will engage in in-depth discussions on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, climate change response, people-to-people exchanges, and sustainable development.
China will also share the outcomes and prospects of aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of the Pacific Island countries, aiming to elevate China–Pacific cooperation to a new level.
