Fiji is looking to explore potential collaborations with China in areas such as ecological conservation, sustainable aquaculture, and fish farming to enhance the development of its fisheries sector.
During a visit to Ninghai Village in Ningde, Fujian Province, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka highlighted this interest as part of his tour in China.
Ninghai, located in the Lumen Port area, is home to around 300 families and over 1,000 residents who primarily rely on marine aquaculture for their livelihoods. The village also attracts tourists, which helps boost the income of local families.
Rabuka noted that the successful fish farms in the Lumen Bay area serve as a compelling model of an effective poverty alleviation initiative, which has improved community welfare and economically benefited the region as a whole.
He emphasized that Fiji’s coastal communities and fisheries could significantly gain by adopting marine fish farming projects, underlining the importance of strengthened collaboration with the People’s Republic of China.
The Prime Minister pointed out that such partnerships could promote sustainable aquaculture practices, marine and ecological conservation, as well as knowledge sharing and capacity building between the fisheries sectors of Fiji and China.
Rabuka was informed that Ninghai Village has successfully transitioned from a previously impoverished community to a thriving one, with an annual collective economic income surpassing ¥1 million.
The village aims to become the leading tourism destination in Ningde City, with plans to invest over ¥17.5 million in developing visitor service centers, recreational facilities, and accommodations among other projects.