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| Speech by, Hon. Fineasi Funaki, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Tonga |
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| 2008-10-17 13:45 mofcom |
Your Excellencies,distinguished delegates,ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of my delegation I wish to express my most sincere gratitude for the invitation and the opportunity to be here at the second Ministerial Forum between China and the Pacific lsland Countries.
It is indeed a rare honour to be here in beautiful Xiamen City o the Fujian Province.
China and Tonga have established strong relations,and we are truly grateful for China's precious support and assistance to our economic and social development.
I further wish to congratulate the Govemment and people of China for hosting a very successful and most spectacular Olympic games.
My delegation commends the hosting of the Ministerial Forum at the margin of the Xiamen Fair.The fair shows the need for a strong partnership between Govemment and Private Sector.It also displays how a vibrant private sector can contribute to the economic development of a nation.
I believe Mr. Chairman that it is timely at this juncture to review the implementation of the Guiding Framework and the progress towards the formation WTO compatible trade arrangement between China and the Paciflc Island Countries.
The performance of the world economy has recently been impeded by
The escalation in international commodity prices especially the prices of oil and food
The international financial turbulence and
the breakdown of the Doha development round
While these events are beyond our control.they have nonetheless amplified the socio economic challenges that we commonly encounter as small vulnerable economies;I believe we should be compelled to intensify and expedlte actions,to put in place affective and immediate means,to deepen the trade,investment and tourism relations between China and the Pacific lsland Countries,
Trade
The study that was conducted by the Forum Secretariat in 2006 revealed some very encouraging sign;It showed that for the 10 years from 1996 to 2005,Pacific Island Countries exports to china have quadrupled,and also with significant diversifincation.
It revealed that while exports have expanded , to include a wide range of products-china's imports of food products such as vanilla and nonu juice inter alia could be significantly increased if Pacific Island Countries could address specific issues regarding supply capacity constraints,transportation costs and tariff preference disadvantages.
The development of Pacific Island Countries'exports for the large and rapidly growing Chinese market is both a priority and challenge.The Chinese market is large and very competitive,and Pacific island Countrles face inherent logistics difflculties associated with small size and distance from market,as well as developing supply capacities.
On the other hand it is most welcoming to note that China has increased the volume and range of its exports to PICS China has become the most important source of imports for most PICS.I believe we should continue to encourage the two way flow of trade.
However Mr.Chairman the trade between the PICS and China face discrimination in each other market.and I believe this phenomenon is likely to increase in the future,unless it can be counter-acted by putting in place a new China-Pacific Island Countries trade arrangement.
I suppose Mr. Chairman that we have to address these issues with some degree of urgency;
Firstly we have to put in place some Pacific Island Countries - China Free Trade Agreement or limited agreement giving preference to those exports producis of particular interest to PICS This is absolutely necessary to neutralize the disadvantages to pacific Island Countries expoft arising out from tariff preferences granted by China to its FTA partners.
cooperation programs should be developed to address supply side capacity constraints,in order to significantly develop volume and range of exports form pacific island countries to China.The efforts in this area should not be confined to the current range of products being exported,but extended to cover potential new produds that can be exported on a sustainable leve1.lnvestments from China should be directed into these key export oriented areas.
Considerations should be given to developing cooperation programs in the areasof energy,especially alternative energy and transport,and they should gohand in hand with trade and tourism,the key sectors where the Pacific lsland Countries have compartive advantages.l believe we have to aocord high priority to these actions as soon as possible.
Investment and PrtvateSector Development
The study in 2006 reinforced the need to expiore ways in which funding for private sector development could be made more readily available particularly in the Sma1lto Medium Enterpdses(SME)sectw. The study highlighted thst the current Chinese investments in the paciflc are small scale and mainly through family linkages.
It was identined that the main deterrent to investment in the region is the cost of doing business.paartly policy induced and high costs stemming from inherent conditions such as isolation and smallness.
We note with great interest the China -Africa development fund,whi1e modaiities can not wholly be transferred to the padflc,such a facility can providewindow of opportunity for local SMES.
However a possible shift in modalities would require a substantial shift ln Chinese government policy from the way in which support has previously been provided both for businesss who wants to invest and for regional SMEs.nevertheless l am confldent that we wiii flnd a way that would mutually beneflt our people.
l believe we have to look urgently at strategies that would stimulate the growth in investments,trade and flow of tourism bebveen China and the Pacific island Countries.
I thank you Mr.Chaiman |
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 | Speech by the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP at the China-Pacific Island Countries Investment, Trade and Tourism.Ministerial Conference 2008-10-22 10:06 |
| Speech Notes at the lnvestment,Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum 2008-10-17 13:47 |
| SPEECH BY COOK ISLANDS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER &MINISTER OF FINANCE SIRTEREPAZMAOATEKBE(MD) 2008-10-17 10:05 |
| DG, Leader of Vanuatu Delegation- Trade, Tourism and Investment Forum China-Pacific Cooperation, Xiamen City 2008-10-13 10:30 |
| Statement by the Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Feleti P Teo 2008-10-10 15:04 |
| Statement by Misa Telefoni Retzlaff, Vice Premier, Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism of Samoa 2008-10-10 10:12 |
| Remarks by Marokon Alilee, Director General of Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Tourism of Vanuatu at the Investment,Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum 2008-09-27 09:05 |
| Remarks by Dion Taufitu, Associate Minister of Trade and Investment of Niue, at the Investment, Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum 2008-09-26 17:23 |
| Remarks by Peter M.Christian, Secretary,Department of Resources and Development of Micronesia, at the Investment, Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum 2008-09-26 17:21 |
| Remarks by Gabriel Kapris, Minister of Commerce and Industry of PNG, at the Investment, Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum 2008-09-26 17:18 |
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