Xi’s visit to enhance solidarity, cooperation with Pacific island countries

President Xi Jinping arrived at Papua New Guinea (PNG) to pay a state visit at the invitation of Governor-General Bob Dadae and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. As Xi’s first visit to Papua New Guinea and first-ever by a Chinese President, this trip will renew China’s friendship with eight Pacific island allies and pave the way for exploring new forms of development as well as future growth between China and the Pacific region. Xi will also attend the 26th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, hosted at the Independence Boulevard and International Convention Centre, both venues located in Port Moresby and built through Chinese assistance.

In a recent article titled ‘Set Sail on a New Voyage for Relations Between China and Pacific Island Countries’ that appeared on PNG’s newspapers, Xi emphasized the strong existing ties between the two countries. By praising the Pacific country as being “home to the birds of paradise”, he argued that this largest and most populous Pacific island country has an enormous potential for development, due to its rich natural resources, which is combined with the huge efforts done by the government and the hardworking people of Papua New Guinea.

In 1976, the two countries established diplomatic relations, and after more than 40 years, such interaction has culminated into deep win-win bilateral relations, benefitting people from the two countries. It is worth noting that today Papua New Guinea is China’s biggest trading partner in the region. Likewise China is PNG’s largest foreign investor and project contractor. Xi affirmed that China’s interaction with PNG goes back to more than 100 years ago, when Chinese people settled down there and made significant contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.

In recent years, China has actively supported Papua New Guinea’s development through providing medical and humanitarian assistance as well as offering concessional loans to finance the building of hydropower stations, school dormitories and hospitals. Since reform and opening-up, China has enjoyed the fruits of globalization, and through progressively reaching a moderate prosperous society, the country made sure that neighboring countries and regions could also share the same benefits, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation and many projects China lately initiated to increase regional connectivity, such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Four years ago, when Xi met with leaders of eight Pacific island countries who have diplomatic ties with China, they committed themselves to boost strategic partnership for common development based on three main principles, namely mutual respect, deepening cooperation and building people-to-people links. China has always regarded countries as equals regardless of their size and supported Pacific island countries’ efforts in pursuing development according their national circumstances while enhancing their roles in international affairs. Deepening cooperation means also closer business, economic and technological ties followed by stronger people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

In order to achieve a new path for future cooperation, three steps are critically needed. First, China and the Pacific island countries should bring their strategic trust to a higher level, enhancing solidarity and cooperation. Second, China aims to expand practical cooperation with Pacific island countries through encouraging their active participation in BRI, with full respect to each country’s national peculiarities. Third, China and Pacific island countries’ cooperation in culture, education, youth, sports and medical services is crucial to deepen mutual understanding and friendship within the region.

China is keen to exchange views on regional economic integration, digital economy as well as sustainable and inclusive growth with other APEC economies at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Themed ‘Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future,’ the summit will bring APEC leaders together to work on a people-oriented inclusive economy. “Inclusiveness must be our underlying principle for us to make this meeting really meaningful for all our citizens. No one should be left behind,” said PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato recently. As a regional economic forum established in 1989, APEC aims to leverage the increasing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific, creating prosperity through inclusive, sustainable, balanced and innovative growth, in the meanwhile deepening regional economic integration.

The summit will strengthen China’s cooperation with Pacific island countries and bring further fruitful interaction among APEC economies. “The future of the country is for the young people, this is why we need to make sure that we build the connections and relationships,” said PNG Prime Minister O’Neil while addressing APEC staff member. APEC will allow the most populous and largest Pacific island country to open its doors to international delegates, who will get to know the cultural richness of this country. At the same time, it will represent a crucial momentum for discussing the role of digital economy to foster economic inclusion while promoting intercultural dialogue among APEC economies.

The author is a graduate of China Studies and International Relations at Peking University and the London School of Economics. Currently, he is working in the fields of development and public policy.