NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice
Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui has said China attaches great importance to its
relationship with Pacific islands countries.
The ultimate goal of China's Pacific islands policy is
the maintenance of the regional stability and the promotion of common
development, he said.
He was addressing a meeting between the 16-member
Pacific Islands Forum, the major inter-governmental organization to promote
cooperation in the region, and its dialogue partners on Thursday.
He praised the progress PIF has made in regional
cooperation and pursuit of common development.
He also briefed the Forum members on China's stand on
conservation of resources, climate change, energy security and sustainable
development.
Zhang said the Chinese government will continue to
carry out a series of preferential policies in support of a more rapid
development of island countries, which were announced by Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao at the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and
Cooperation Forum in Fiji, in April 2006.
He said China is willing to strengthen the exchange
and cooperation with all the island countries in an effort to further cement
bilateral ties and contribute more to the prosperity and stability in the
region.
At the meeting, Forum members spoke highly of the
generous assistance China has provided to the region over the past many years
and expressed the hope for a further enhanced cooperation with China.
PIF groups have 16 member nations, namely Australia, Cook
Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia,
Kiribati, Niue, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands,
Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
