A forum meeting, aimed at promoting friendship and cooperation between China and eight Pacific island countries concluded Thursday in Nadi with pledges to do more to push forward common development.

The first Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum was co- sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare, Vanuatu Prime Minister Ham Lini,President of Micronesia Joseph J. Urusemal, Prime Minister of Tonga Feleti Sevele, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Jim Marurai, Premier of Niue M.Y. Vivian and Samoa Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labor Hans Joachim Keil attended the opening of the Forum conference on Wednesday.

In his keynote speech "Win-win Cooperation for Common Development," Premier Wen said it is a strategic decision, not a diplomatic expediency for China to foster friendship and cooperation with the Pacific island countries.

China is committed to "promoting peace and development through cooperation," and will continue to strengthen its friendship and cooperation with the Pacific island countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, said Wen.

Wen Jiabao was here on April 4-5 for an official visit to Fiji, the first ever visit by a Chinese premier to the South Pacific island country.

He proposed that China and the Pacific island countries work together in the following fields: conduct regular exchanges between governments, parliaments political parties and non- governmental sectors to enhance mutual trust and understanding; strengthen consultation and coordination on major international and regional issues; accommodate each other's interests and reinforce mutual support; and establish a new economic and trade relationship of mutual benefit that meets the needs of the island countries.

He said to strengthen cooperation between the business communities of China and the Pacific island countries, China has decided to provide RMB 3 billion yuan (about 374 million U.S. dollars) of preferential loans in the next three years to boost cooperation in resources development, agriculture, forestry, fishery, tourism, textiles and consumer products manufacturing, telecommunications and aviation and ocean shipping.

China has decided to give zero-tariff treatment to the majority of exports to China from the least developed countries in the region that have diplomatic ties with China, and cancel their debts that became mature at the end of 2005 and extend by 10 years the payment of debts contracted by other island countries that became mature at the end of 2005.

China has also decided to formally approve Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia as destinations for Chinese tourists. Thus, all the seven island countries having diplomatic ties with China are now approved tourist destinations for Chinese citizens.

The heads of State and Government also witnessed the signing of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Guiding Framework, another significant step taken to enrich cooperation between China and the Pacific island countries.

After the signing of the Framework, the ministers, heads of delegations, high-level officials and entrepreneurs from the business communities of China and the Pacific island countries went into panel discussions to explore ways of cooperation in such fields as tourism and transportation, trade and investment, agriculture, forestry and fishery.

During the two-day meeting, a series of cooperation agreements and documents were signed, including the Agreement on Establishing the China-Fiji Islands Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission, Y12IV aircraft Lease-purchase Contract between China and Fiji, the MOU on CDMA System Cooperation between IPBC of Papua New Guinea and Huawei of China, and the Supplementary Agreement on Setting up a Floating Fishing Wharf between China and Vanuatu.

Australia and New Zealand also sent ministers and officials to the meeting.

The meeting decided that the Ministerial Conference of the Forum shall be held at least every four years of such other period as the participating countries may agree from time to time.

And the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic and Cooperation Forum, which will examine and assess the achievements of the first conference, will be held in Beijing. Subsequent conferences will be held alternately in the participating Pacific island countries and in China.

Source: Xinhua