Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has shown a keen interest in partnering with China’s Yunnan Province on several fronts, including education, agricultural practices, infrastructure development, and tourism. During his official visit to China this week, Rabuka met with Yunnan Province Governor Wang Yubo.
Rabuka noted that Yunnan has established itself as a model of resilience and diligence in its economic growth and improvement of local living standards. He emphasized that Fiji could gain valuable insights from Yunnan, one of China’s rapidly developing provinces, which could significantly benefit Fiji through development cooperation.
The Prime Minister highlighted the need to enhance discussions surrounding people-to-people connections, socio-economic opportunities, and political relationships. He remarked that both Fiji and China share fundamental principles, such as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
In response, Governor Yubo expressed Yunnan’s readiness to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, promote exchanges among people, implement poverty alleviation programs, address anti-narcotics efforts, and enhance higher education initiatives.
Additionally, Rabuka toured Ping’anpo and Nanyou villages in Malipo County, Yunnan Province, where he observed various targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization initiatives. He stated that Fiji could leverage China’s technological innovations and sustainable practices to improve living standards, bolster food security, increase productivity, and diversify its economy.