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| Statement by Misa Telefoni Retzlaff, Vice Premier, Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism of Samoa |
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| 2008-10-10 10:12 mofcom |
Your Excellencies,
Mr Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce, P.R.C.,
Deputy Prime Minister of Cook Islands,
Distinguished Ministers from the Pacific Islands Forum countries,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
“Beauty so pure, it takes my breath away”, this is how the English poet Robert Brook described Samoa when he first caught sight of its magnificent beauty.
The Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and many famous books, chose to “live and die in Samoa”.
However, in 1906, a group of Chinese imigrants from Qingdao, arrived in Samoa and their descendants now control some 85% of Samoa’s commercial sector.
This is the same all over the Pacific Islands. Now, more than 100 years later, China is again making a magic contribution, by these initiatives, to the development of Pacific economies.
Samoa’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China is built on a firm foundation of mutual trust and respect. It is firmly rooted on 33 years of a cardial and steadfast partnership. This has be blessed with much more – a close association and friendship.
Samoa has never wavered in its support for China in all fields, and especially its firm commitment to and support of the ONE CHINA POLICY. Samoa supports China’s diplomatic initiatives and economic policies – especially at the global level.
Samoa welcomes this new global initiative to give the Pacific access to the Chinese market. China had never wavered in its support for Samoa in all its fields of endeavor – cultural, diplomatic and particularly economic sector.
Samoa’s people enjoy one of the best standards of living in the Pacific, topping UNDP’s Human Development Index with Tonga, and Samoans live in a peaceful, harmonious, and relatively crime free society – attribute to a fair distribution of wealth and government policies focussed on the grassroots of the society.
Samoa hosted the most successful South Pacific Games in 2007 – a feat only made possible with China’s inwavering commitment and support. The Chinese built Aquatic Center is the best in the entire Pacific region. China expanded the Apia Stadium in 2006 with a grant.
As for social development and human resource development, three urban primary schools, vital to the expanding need for more primary education, have been constructed by China in Apia.
Our Youth Center and the enhancement of women’s development initiatives, human resource and technical training programs, and long term medical personnel have all helped Samoans enjoy a better standard of living.
This week a new CT Scan will be launched, improving health service diagnosis and treatments. China fully funds Samoans for study in different disciplines in Chinese universities every year.
In trade, China has exampted Samoa with special tariff treatment to some 278 duty free items. China has also exempted five unpaid concessional loans, marking the celebrations of the thirty year anniversary of our diplomatic realtions in 2005.
As we speak, the new Parliamentary Office Complex is being inaugurated in Samoa. This will greatly enhance the capacity of all Samoa’s legislators, who have never enjoyed the convenience of parliamentary offices before. The magnificent new Court House and Justice Administration Complex will facilitate the work of courts, and the administration of our judicial system.
A new government office complex and international conference center is a direct response to Samoa’s boost in economic activity and our booming tourist industry. These projects will begin early in 2010 and come on stream in early 2011.
The convention center in particular, will attract more FDIs into the hotel industry. A recent study by our successful joint venture airline Polynesian-Blue carried visitors much less to Samoa had grown subtantially, an average 40%, in the last 12 months!
Visitors appreciate the natural and unspoilt beauty of Samoa, and more convention business will be attracted by these facilities.
China is Samoa’s most responsible and actually sensitive development partner. China never seeks to impose its vision of development on any country.
China always responds to the country’s own prioritised list of requirements – both social and economic.
We will, at this forum, discuss ways to greatly enhance the capacity of China to assist us by strengthening trade, investment and our tourism related activities. China is a potential market of 1.3 billion which the Pacific can not afford to ignore.
On behalf of myself and all my delegation, I would acknowledge our great appreciation for this invitation and for the wonderful courtesies and hospitality extended to us all.
God bless you all. |
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