Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Meets with Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea

The delegation of the Chinese government headed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the 17th Post-Forum Dialogue with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) from October 27 to 29, 2005, which was held in Moresby, Capital of Papua New Guinea. Yang held dialogues on bilateral relations and issues of common concern with the PIF representatives, including Foreign Minister Namaliu of Papua New Guinea, who is also the Chairman of the post-forum dialogue team, Foreign Minister Tupou of Tonga, Minister Hans Joachim Keil of Trade, Commerce and Industry of Samoa, and Deputy Secretary General Losefa Maiava of the PIF.

Yang first extended his congratulations on the success of the PIF Summit meeting and spoke positively of the relations between China and the PIF and its members. Yang pointed out that the high-level contacts between China and the PIF are frequent, the economic and trade cooperation keeps growing, and the bilateral relation is demonstrating a robustly growing momentum. Yang introduced the position of China on walking along the path of peaceful development and stressed that the development of China presents important opportunities to the countries in the Asian Pacific region. It is an important part of China's foreign policy to develop the long-term friendly and cooperative relationship with Pacific island countries. China is willing to be a good neighbor and partner of these countries and would like to support them in safeguarding their rights and interests in the international arena. China would also like to devote itself to the endeavor of achieving sustainable growth and contributing to the stability and development of this region.

Yang, on behalf of the Chinese government, announced the measures aimed at strengthening the bilateral cooperative relationship with Pacific island countries, including funding this PIF meeting to adopt the Pacific Plan and proposing the establishment of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum to advance the bilateral cooperation in such fields as environmental protection, tourism, legislation, education, agriculture, fishery and health.

The forum extended a warm welcome to the Chinese delegation headed by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, saying that the assistance of the Chinese government to the PIF and its members over the past years played a positive role in promoting the economic and social development of these countries and improving the living standards of the people. In this post-forum dialogue, the Chinese government proposed many programs for cooperation, which reflected the sincerity of the Chinese government in developing the relationship with the PIF and for which the forum felt grateful. The forum expressed the willingness to consolidate the communication and contact with the Chinese side, implement the collaborative programs as soon as possible, and further the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two sides.

Yang also introduced the recent situation of the relations across the Taiwan Straits, reaffirmed the principled position of the Chinese government on the question of Taiwan. The forum indicated that they would continue to follow the one-China principle on the question of Taiwan.

After the dialogue, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Secretary General Greg Urwin of the PIF signed the exchange of notes of funding the PIF by China.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Secretary General Greg Urwin of the PIF exchanged the notes.

During the dialogue, Yang Jiechi met respectively with Prime Minister Michael Somare and Foreign Minister Namaliu of Papua New Guinea, as well as leaders participating in the 36th PIF, including President Joseph J. Urusemal and Sebastian L. Anefal, Secretary (Minister) of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola of Fiji, Prime Minister Ham Lini and Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil of Finance and Economic Development of Vanuatu, Foreign Minister Tupou of Tonga, Minister Hans Joachim Keil of Trade, Commerce and Industry of Samoa, and representatives of Cook Islands.

Yang also accepted the exclusive interviews by journalists from Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, China National Radio and the National of Papua New Guinea, as well as the interviews by journalists from the Post-Courier of Papua New Guinea, Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu, answering questions concerning the relationship between China and the PIF, China's policies on the South Pacific, and the Taiwan issue.