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| DG, Leader of Vanuatu Delegation- Trade, Tourism and Investment Forum China-Pacific Cooperation, Xiamen City |
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| 2008-10-13 10:30 mofcom |
1.Greetings from the government and the people of the Republic of Vanuatu.
2.Your Excellency Mr Chen Deming,Minister of Mofcom,P.R.C. Pacific Leaders and Heads of Delegation, Ambassadors, Observers, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
3.It gives me great pleasure today to meet you at the opening of the China-Pacific Economic Development and Cooperation Forum to review the activities undertaken in line with the Guiding Framework.
4.At the outset, let me reiterate that the Government of Vanuatu will always maintain and respect One China Policy with the People’s Republic of China as it originally established diplomatic relations in March 22,1982.Since then the two countries have enjoyed a long lasting relationship based on mutual understanding and friendship.
Multilateral Cooperation :
Regional Level
5.Regionally, Vanuatu and China share common strategic and economic interests, nationally and internationally and there is a general realization to build upon these elements of future cooperation.
6.As a full dialogue partner since 1990 in the Pacific Islands Forum, which Vanuatu is full member of , the PRC plays a leading role in addressing issues that impact on paths that led to development on the region.
7.In 2006, at the first ever summit between the Pacific Islands Countries and the PRC, PRC announced that it will donate an amount of US$370 million to the Pacific Islands countries strong supporters of the One China Policy.
8.The financial assistance in the form of soft confessional loan would support the development of small enterprises in the next three years and fund training for government officers in the region. The key sectors of development that will be given priorities under the loan are agriculture, forestry, fisheries, telecommunication, civil aviation and tourism.
9.China will also exempt from duty products from Pacific Islands States that have diplomatic relations with China. Pacific Islands Countries that are categorized as Lest Developed Countries will have their debts with china cancelled.
10.Early July China hand-over a cheque of US$150,000 to the Pacific Islands Forum specifically for regional programs that address the issue of Regional Security and Trade and Investment in the region two important pillars of the Pacific Plan.
Development Cooperation
11.The Government and the people of Vanuatu are grateful for the increasing development assistance they have been receiving from the Government of the People’s Republic of China over the years.
12.In the past 3 years, we have witnessed the donation of Vt.200m school subsidy allocated to primary schools in Vanuatu to subsidize school fees and the signing agreement for two cargo/passenger inter-island small ships (Mv.Southern Star and Northern Star).
13.The PRC. Provides a combination of grants in the forum of equipment, vehicles, rice, flour, Foreign Ministry Building , Agriculture College, Financial support in the forum of cash grants and concessional loans (USP project/Parliament complex) and does also provide technical assistance (particularly with doctors, energy experts, rice and vegetable experts, table tennis coach, copra price subsidy, fish-processing plant and teachers to Vanuatu).
14.Of particular importance is the PRC provision of concessional loans for the e-government project
15.We are particularly proud to announce that the two governments, the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu and the Peoples Republic of China , have finalized a framework agreement on a concessonal loan provided by the EximBank of China to purchase two Y12 Aircraft for RV National Carrier, Air Vanuatu, and the Chiness Government will donate an additional Y12 aircraft.
Bilateral Relations
16.It is of importance that I mention here that, the bilateral relations between the two counties, the GOV and the PRC have grown progressively over the past 22 years at all levels, at the political level, the official level and at the private sector level.
17.We have witnessed exchange visits by respective Leaders of the two countries at the highest level, including Heads of State, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament, Prime Ministers, Ministers and Members of Parliament and the latest visit by our current President Kalkot Mataskelekele. It is highest level of official visit from the Republic of Vanuatu.
18.All these visits and dialogue have all contributed to a better understanding of the two countries respective culture and tradition, a stronger framework for the development cooperation and a more constructive engagement in regional and international meetings.
19.The Highest visit ever from a Chinese Leader to Vanuatu was in 2005 when the Minister of Foreign affairs of PRC visited Vanuatu and recently the Vice Premier of China H.E.Zeng Peiyan the 2nd highest figure in the PRC after Premier Wu paid a visit to Vanuatu.
20.Trade and Economics
21.Vanuatu imports goods worth approximately US $ 1.6 from PRC, mainly in the form of garments, shoes, food products, textiles, medicines and industrial products.
22.As an indication of the Government of Vanuatu strong policy commitment to create a condusive environment for Chinese Investors, I am please to announce also that Vanuatu has signed an Investment Promotion Protection Agreement. This will facilitate potential Chinese investors
23.China-Pacific Islands Countries Economic Development & Cooperation
24.Under the China/Pacific Economic Development & Cooperation Framework, Vanuatu would like to encourage expansion of trade to specifically cover the needs of the small island states and the LDCs.
25.Vanuatu being an LDC with no natural wealth but heavily relying on aid but with great potential of agro-based small industries would welcome assistance in the area of , value adding products, It is the Government policy to value add.Vanuatu encourages joint venture partnerships in Agriculture, including fisheries. We are giving priorities to cooperation in the study and formulation of agricultural development programs, transfer of technical expertise, construction of agricultural infrastructure, processing of agricultural products and fishery and plant farming as well as assessment and sustainable use and development of fishery resources.
26.Under this economic development & cooperation, Vanuatu would like to see coverage expanded to areas of education and health where the burden of our National Budgets are mostly felt.
27.As we are limited to Trade in Goods, Vanuatu as other Pacific States would like to see emphasis in cooperation in areas of Services, therefore inviting strengthening relations in Trade in services. We wish to encourage tourism and investments. Tourism is now Vanuatu’s major industry contributing 40% of our GDP and providing thousands of jobs. Under this cooperation program we would like to encourage land and sea- based tourism, including eco-tourism, cooperation in hotel construction, operation and management, and the processing and the production of tourism handicrafts.
Finally, the Government and the people of Vanuatu wishes to put on record, their appreciation for all aid from PRC in all forms, whether grant, concession loans or technical assistance. We value our relationship and will continue to develop a mutually beneficial economic development & cooperation. |
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