China will establish three development centres in a bid to boost partnership with Pacific Island Countries.
Chinese ambassador Qian Bo made the comment at the handover of 200 basketballs and 20 wheelchairs to the Youth and Sports Ministry at Albert Park, Suva yesterday.
He said last month, the first China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting announced the planned establishment of three centres.
Mr Bo said they would include a China-PICs Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation Centre “to step up cooperation in various areas under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and by sharing China’s experience in poverty eradication to realise common development with PICs.
He said they would also set up a China-PICs Climate Action Cooperation Centre to assist PICs in “enhancing capacity building to tackle climate change under the framework of South-South cooperation”.
Mr Bo said they would also establish a China-PICs Reserve of Emergency Supplies “to strengthen cooperation against natural disasters including COVID-19 to work for a community of health for all”.
Youth and Sports Minister Parveen Kumar said “the Chinese Government has been actively involved in the positive development of youth in Fiji”.
“Earlier this year, we were very fortunate to receive their assistance in funding a total of $80,000 for a new volleyball court in Malawi, Nadi and Nasinu,” he said.
