China has released 400,000 U.S. dollars to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat toward the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as well as air and sea transport services within the region.

According to the press release Friday from the PIF, the South Pacific regional political body, its Secretary General Greg Urwin said he is grateful for the commitment by China during the 2005 Post Forum Dialogue in Papua New Guinea to provide additional funds of 2 million U.S. dollars for the period 2006 to 2010 at the rate of 400,000 U.S. dollars per year for cooperation projects.

This grant comes under the China-Forum Cooperation Fund set up in 1999 to encourage bilateral cooperation to promote trade, investment, tourism, personnel exchange and training as well as to facilitate the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office in Beijing.

The assistance will go some way towards the implementation of the Forum Leaders' decision to develop ICT access in the region as well as address the issues of air and sea transportation between the island nations of the region, said Urwin.

The funding will go towards integrated port development, regional aviation and support for rural and remote ICT access technologies and application in Pacific island countries.

Source: Xinhua