China, Pacific Island nations set new South-South cooperation model

Editor's Note: Zhu Xuan is a researcher at the Research Center for Pacific Island Countries (RCPIC) of Liaocheng University in east China's Shandong Province. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

As an important part of the Global South, the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have gained increasing prominence on the international stage in recent years. 

China and the PICs share a long-standing friendship, which has deepened through multidimensional cooperation under the framework of South-South collaboration. 

Since 2021, China has established a series of cooperation mechanisms aimed at supporting sustainable development in the PICs. These include the Reserve of Emergency Supplies, the Climate Action Cooperation Center, the Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation Center, the Disaster Risk Reduction Cooperation Center, and the Agriculture Cooperation and Demonstration Center. With support from these centers, China has led efforts to improve the well-being of Pacific island peoples.

Climate change remains a core concern for the PICs. As some of the most vulnerable states in the world amid accelerating climate change, the islands face pressing risks such as freshwater shortages, biodiversity loss, coastal erosion, flooding and other extreme weather events. Strengthening climate resilience and protecting the lives and livelihoods of residents are top priorities for these nations.

Since its establishment in 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Center has served as a key South-South cooperation platform. The center connects scientists, technical professionals, enterprises, and policymakers to collaborate on climate solutions in areas such as green energy, low-carbon development, and climate governance awareness. 

Over the past four years, more than 120 government officials and technical experts from Pacific Island countries have visited the center and participated in its training programs. In a concrete example of impact, the center donated 10 family-scale solar electricity systems to Tonga in 2023, reducing household electricity costs by up to 80 percent. for these families. By focusing on the most urgent needs of local peoples, the center continues to work toward a cleaner, safer future for the region in the face of climate threats.

Liaocheng City in east China's Shandong Province, home to the Climate Change Cooperation Center, is increasingly seen as an overseas hub for the PICs in China. The city has established sister-city relationships with Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Tonga, and has hosted various cultural exchange events to welcome guests from the Pacific islands. 

In 2024, the China-Pacific Island Countries Cooperation and Exchange Conference was held in Liaocheng, offering opportunities for exchange in cultural tourism, education, sports, low-carbon development, and humanitarian aid. One key outcome of the conference was the launch of the China-Pacific Island Countries Green Development and Cooperation Alliance, which aims to support the PICs in areas such as energy transition, ecosystem protection, and climate-resilient infrastructure by engaging enterprises, business associations, and research institutions in climate solutions.

Later this month, the "Decoding China's Rural Revitalization" tour will bring guests from the PICs to Liaocheng's countryside. As a city with expansive farmland, Liaocheng has championed rural development by modernizing its agricultural sector and promoting rural tourism. Signature green agricultural products such as Shenxian vegetables and Chiping fruits have driven local economic growth and improved livelihoods. To share these experience in agricultural efficiency and tourism development, the tour will take government officials, diplomats, and international students from the PICs to the Yellow River ecological corridor and Chiping's modern agriculture parks. Guests will also have the chance to taste local food and engage in cultural activities, offering firsthand insight into rural Chinese life.

Education is another crucial pillar of social advancement and economic growth for Pacific Island nations. Shandong Province offers scholarships for students from these countries to pursue university programs. Currently, 24 students from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are studying at Liaocheng University. In addition to their academic courses, they study the Chinese language and experience Chinese culture in their daily campus life. The number of students from the PICs in China continues to grow, helping to cultivate talent for the development of their home countries and to deepen people-to-people ties between China and the PICs.

Through cooperation in climate action, rural development, education, and other key areas, China and the Pacific Island countries have strengthened their long-standing partnership. China remains deeply attentive to the PICs' urgent needs in climate adaptation, energy security, and human resource development. Economic and technical assistance from China has played a vital role in supporting the PICs' social and economic advancement. 

As a Papua New Guinea expert noted at the 2023 Pacific Island Countries Dialogue on climate action, China's dedication to addressing climate change and bolstering the resilience of the region is highly valued. This commitment is evident in a wide array of initiatives, partnerships, and supportive mechanisms that have made China-PICs cooperation a model of South-South collaboration – grounded in mutual respect and mutual benefit.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and both Fiji and Samoa. In alignment with the vision laid out by Pacific leaders in their Blue Pacific Continent Strategy – a vision of a resilient Pacific region marked by peace, harmony, security, inclusion, and prosperity – China remains a steadfast partner. In this new chapter of China-Pacific Island Countries relations, China will continue to support sustainable development, promote regional prosperity, and improve the well-being of peoples in those countries.

(Cover: A view of a village in Liaocheng City, east China's Shandong Province, May 24, 2025. /VCG)