Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed on June 29an economic development forum be established between China and South Pacific countries, including Fiji, so as to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.

"China is ready to keep contact and cooperation with Fiji for an early launch of the forum," Wen told Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase during their talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

The Fijian prime minister said his country supported the proposal, adding such a forum would benefit the friendly cooperative ties between countries in the region and China.

Wen said Sino-Fijian relations witnessed constant growth since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1975.

Exchanges between top leaders, parliaments and political parties of the two nations became frequent and active, and mutual trust kept enhancing, Wen said. Bilateral trade also increased year by year.

"It's been proved that to develop the Sino-Fijian friendly cooperative relations accords with the two people's common aspiration and their fundamental interests, which also benefits stability and prosperity in the South Pacific region," Wen said.

Wen appreciated the Fijian government's reiteration of adhering to the one-China policy.

The Chinese government attaches importance to and is devoted to developing "long-term friendly, mutual-beneficial and win-win" relations with Fiji, and new opportunities are there for further development of the relations, Wen said.

"China will work with Fiji to expand trade and economic cooperation, while encouraging and supporting Chinese enterprises to invest in Fiji to push for the implementation of cooperation projects in agriculture, fishery and infrastructure construction," Wen said.

Laisenia Qarase said Fiji and China trust, understand and respect each other, with bilateral relations and trade and economic cooperation enhanced.

He said Fiji and he himself will continuously try their best to cooperate with China in achieving new progress in bilateral ties, and expanding trade and economic cooperation and two-way investment.

Fiji will, as always, firmly stick to the one-China policy, he added.

The two prime ministers attended the signing ceremony of a China-Fiji economic and technology cooperation agreement after their talks.

Laisenia Qarase arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a working visit to China. He has traveled to Qingdao, a coastal city in the eastern China province of Shandong, and Tianjin municipality to the east of Beijing.

Source: Xinhua