Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has emphasized the strong bond between Fiji and China, which is founded on mutual trust, respect for each nation’s aspirations, and recognition of each country’s sovereignty. This statement came after a meeting between Prime Minister Rabuka and President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where they committed to enhancing bilateral relations.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed his admiration for China’s achievements and its growing global influence under President Xi’s leadership, noting the robust relationship that has developed over the past 49 years. The two leaders highlighted the importance of leveraging their respective strengths to deepen collaboration in various sectors such as infrastructure development, agriculture, fisheries, education, sports, tourism, and poverty reduction, all within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation aimed at promoting shared development.
As his official visit to China concluded, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed gratitude to President Xi and the Chinese government for their warm hospitality, and he praised China’s transformation over the past thirty years under the President’s strategic leadership.
Additionally, Prime Minister Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to the One China Principle, which has been the foundation of their diplomatic relations, evolving into a comprehensive strategic partnership characterized by mutual respect and shared development goals. He also extended an invitation for President Xi to visit Fiji, which was accepted.
In his response, President Xi affirmed the significance of China-Fiji relations and expressed China’s willingness to assist Fiji in its economic and social development. Xi noted that Fiji was the first Pacific island nation to establish diplomatic ties with China, highlighting the mutual support and assistance exchanged over their 49 years of friendship.
President Xi also took the opportunity to brief Prime Minister Rabuka on his previous visits to Yunnan, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces, where he witnessed China’s successes in poverty alleviation. He referred to the achievement of building a moderately prosperous society for over 1.4 billion people as a historic milestone accomplished under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
Furthermore, President Xi communicated China’s commitment to building a stronger nation and rejuvenating the Chinese people through peaceful development. He also expressed China’s readiness to support Fiji and other Pacific island nations in addressing climate change and enhancing development cooperation, with the goal of making the Pacific Ocean a region characterized by peace, friendship, and collaboration.