SOLOMON Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka will join counterparts and representatives from other Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) with diplomatic relations with China for the third China-PICs Foreign Ministers Meeting in China this week.
The two-day meeting, to be held on Wednesday 28 May and Thursday 29 May in Xiamen City, Fujian Province.
It will be chaired by Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference in Beijing last week that:
“Foreign Ministers or representatives from 11 island countries having diplomatic with China, namely President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau of Kiribati, Premier and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi of Niue, Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto’a Ulukalala of Tonga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Rouwen Aingimea of Nauru, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert of the Federated States of Micronesia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka of Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati of Vanuatu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana of the Cook Islands, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua of Fiji, representatives of the government of Samoa and Ambassador of Samoa to China Luamanuvae A. Mariner and Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Esala Nayasi will attend the meeting upon invitation.”
Mao said China and PICs are comprehensive strategic partners who are committed to mutual respect and common development.
She said China and PICs have deepened and advanced friendly ties and cooperation in recent years, and this will be the third China-PICs Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the first time it will be held in-person in China.
“There will be an in-depth exchange of views on interactions and cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries in all aspects and international and regional issues of mutual interest.
“China highly values its ties with PICs and hopes that this meeting will help drive the implementation of the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two sides, enhance solidarity and coordination, unite efforts for development and prosperity, and galvanize an even closer community with a shared future between China and PICs,” Mao added.
Journalists from PICs, who are part of a three-month study tour in China for international journalists, will travel from Beijing to Xiamen City and join the Chinese media to report on the meeting.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
