The Pacific island countries shall be granted Approved Destination Status for Chinese citizens under a guiding framework signed Wednesday in Nadi.

The China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Guiding Framework was signed after the opening ceremony for the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.

The two-day Forum conference, with the theme of "Promoting Cooperation for Common Development," was co-sponsored by the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Fiji Islands.

Under the Framework, China and the Pacific island countries vowed to actively promote cooperation in tourism as the two sides envision great potential in this field.

To this end, the experiences of all participating countries in the development of tourism will be shared with a view to attracting and facilitating investment and cooperation between enterprises.

Priority will be given to promotion of land-based tourism including eco-tourism, and cruise tourism, cooperation in hotel construction, operation and management, and the processing and production of tourism handicrafts.

And bilateral consultations between relevant institutions of China and the Pacific island countries will be promoted in order to explore the possibilities of civil aviation services compatible with multi-destination tourism.

Under the Framework, China and the Pacific island countries will also promote and improve cooperation in the development of human resources and personnel exchanges in order to enhance trade and to foster mutual understanding and friendship between China and the Pacific island countries.

The Framework was signed by the ministers of the People's Republic of China, the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Independent State of Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Vanuatu.

Source: Xinhua