Wang Yi calls for building China-PICs community with shared future

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called for efforts to building a China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) community with a shared future at the the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, co-chaired the meeting with President and Foreign Minister of Kiribati Taneti Maamau in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province.

Wang made a six-point suggestion on building a China-PICs community with a shared future: upholding mutual respect, prioritizing development cooperation, maintaining people-centered governance, promoting exchange and mutual learning, safeguarding equity and justice, and maintaining solidarity in challenging times.

China will firmly uphold the basic principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs and support the PICs in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.

China is ready to work with the PICs to implement the Global Development Initiative and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Wang said, urging efforts to accelerate the negotiation of bilateral free trade agreements, strengthen cooperation in agricultural and fishery technologies, and expand cooperation in tourism.

Wang said China will strengthen the exchange of experience with the PICs in areas such as poverty alleviation and grassroots governance, pledging to implement 200 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects this year and send seven batches of 56 medical staff, including more traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, to make greater contributions to promoting the well-being of the people of the PICs.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China's start of establishing diplomatic relations with the PICs, Wang said China has always regarded the PICs as good friends, partners and brothers.

Wang said that under the strategic guidance of their leaders, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the PICs has shown new vitality, achieved new accomplishments and reached a new level.

China-PICs cooperation has yielded fruitful results, benefiting the people of the PICs and promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Wang said that China firmly believes that peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefits are the only correct choices when faced with "profound changes in the world, our times and the trajectory of history."

The foreign ministers of Pacific Island Countries expressed their gratitude to China for its valuable support over a long period of time. They emphasized that their cooperation with China is based on mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual understanding and sovereign equality, and that it has been the independent decision of these island countries, conforms to their own fundamental interests, and is conducive to maintaining regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

They unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, noting that they are looking forward to deepening cooperation with China on infrastructure, climate change and green development, to promoting the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, and to working together to build a peaceful, prosperous Pacific region.

(With input from Xinhua)