THE Co-Chair of the 3rd China-Pacific Island Countries’ (PICs) Meeting, Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau dubbed the meeting as a testament to their robust and cordial relations.
Maamau hailed the meeting when delivering his statement at the conclusion of the meeting, and alongside his co-chair, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday 28 May in Xiamen City, Fujian Province.
“Thank you, Your Excellency for allowing me the opportunity to co-chair this auspices meeting. Today we recognize ourselves as diplomatic and development partners sharing common aspirations for a wide and prosperous future through mutual respect and trust.
“This meeting is a testament to the robust and cordial relationship that we have and will continue to enjoy with China.”
“It is a platform where we will come together to embrace the common ones, and will find the inspiration and stronger partnership to navigate our course into the future. Together, we are strong.
“Co-Chair, this Foreign Ministers meeting is important to reaffirm our Pacific Islands partnership with China. Moreover, I believe that having a leaders’ summit between Pacific Island Countries and China will deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership for a resilient Pacific region for peace and social inclusion.
“Through unity, trust and respect, we will be successful and resilient in our journey to bring tangible outcomes to the people we serve and ultimately to pursue our interests and sovereign and independent states.”
Maamau commended all those who have contributed to ‘shaping’ the meeting documents and the guiding principles and policies therein for transformational development that will benefit future China-Pacific generations.
He said the guiding principles and policies will serve to strengthen China-PICs political commitments to oceans and climate resilience, and most importantly serve to pursue peaceful development in “our Blue Pacific Continent.”
Maamau also commended China’s establishment of the seven cooperations therein the document, which include trade and aviation initiatives.
He said joint statements he and his co-chair and host, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made and those made by their counterparts and other PICs representatives at the conclusion of their meeting were an affirmation of their shared commitment to building an even closer “China-Pacific Island Countries Community with a Shared Future.”
Maamau said these underscore the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s practical leadership and commitment towards ensuring a prosperous future for all.
He said further to looking forward for implementation of the meeting outcomes, he would like to encourage the Chinese leadership to conduct visits to China’s PICs ally countries to give them valuable insights into PICs’ unique realities so as to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the cooperations at community-level.
Maamau also took the opportunity to convey profound gratitude to the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the People and Government of the People’s Republic of China and also Xiamen City for the warm welcome and remarkable hospitality extended to PICs delegates on their arrival for the 3rd China-PICs Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and China’s renewed commitment to this esteemed gathering.
On that note, he confirmed the Government of Kiribati’s full welcome and endorsement of the joint statement of the meeting.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Xiamen City, China
