ALOFI, Niue, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The South Pacific tiny nation of Niue created history on Thursday with the launch of the one laptop per child (OLPC) initiative, becoming the first country in the world to have 100 percent saturation of laptop per child.

    Five hundred students of both Niue primary and high schools have been presented with free laptops.

    "Niue now becomes the first country in the world to have 100 percent saturation of laptop per child," said Jimmie Rodgers, the director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

    He said Niue was implementing one of the decisions of Pacific Leaders in 2005 of a regional digital strategy.

    He thanked Niuean leaders for their foresight in pushing for the implementation of the Leaders decision.

    He told the students that the laptop would be their companion for life and provide a library to the world.

    Under the one laptop per child initiative, the Pacific has been earmarked 5,000 laptops, 500 of which has been gifted to Niue. In the United States, one laptop costs 200 U.S. dollars.