Fiji is one of 10 Pacific island countries that has signed co-operation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BRI is China’s global co-operation platform which includes five focus areas; policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds.
Chinese ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian said Fiji could benefit from the initiative that had helped fund African countries build and upgrade more than 10,000 kilometres of railways, nearly 100,000km of roads, nearly 1000 bridges, and about 100 ports.
“The communication backbone network is 150,000 kilometres long, with its service covering nearly 700 million end-users,” he said during a press briefing in Suva this week.
“The results of China-Africa co-operation spread across the continent, which have significantly improved Africa’s conditions for economic and social development, and enhanced Africa’s development capabilities.
“Almost all African countries established diplomatic relations with China and the African Union Commission have signed co-operation documents with China on the joint construction of the Belt and Road (Initiative).”
He said in recent years, communication and cooperation between China and PICs had expanded to cover more than 20 fields such as trade, investment, ocean affairs, environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, poverty alleviation, health care, education, tourism, culture, sports and at the sub-national level.
“For PICs, China has provided economic and technical assistance without any political strings attached, implemented more than 100 aid projects, delivered more than 200 batches of in-kind assistance, and trained about 10,000 talents in various fields.
“China has dispatched 600 medical staff to PICs, benefiting more than 260,000 local residents.”
He said BRI and China International Import Expo had resulted in Fijian products such as Pure Fiji, Fiji beer and Noni tea, entering the Chinese market.
“Over the years, China has donated vehicles, agricultural machinery, office equipment, and anti-epidemic medical supplies, helping to build infrastructure like hospital, hydro-power station, roads, stadium and bridges, as well as implementing aid projects like rural power grid renovation, JunCao and rice planting, which greatly benefited the local people.
“The China-aided Nabouwalu highway in Vanua Levu, which connects the Nabouwalu port to Labasa, shortens travel time from seven hours to two.
“The China-aided Stinson Parade Bridge and Vatuwaqa Bridge, known as ‘China-Fiji Friendship bridges’, ease the traffic in Suva and promote the development of local business.”
