Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to the Pacific this week to visit eight countries, including the Solomon Islands, as Beijing seeks to solidify its presence there.
Wang will begin his trip in the Solomon Islands on Thursday before visiting Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor during a 10-day tour, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Solomon Islands and its fellow Pacific island nation Kiribati are two of China’s newest allies after switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019.
During his Pacific trip, Wang will also attend the second China-Pacific Island Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in person while visiting Fiji. Last year’s summit was held online.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that China aims to develop “friendly and cooperative relations” with the Pacific nations as part of its long-term interests and to promote “peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region”.
At present, China-Pacific Island Countries relations have shown a sound momentum of development, with our comprehensive strategic partnership deepening. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the restoration of independence of Timor-Leste and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Timor-Leste. The relationship between China and Timor-Leste has been presented with an important opportunity of development. During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have separate talks with foreign ministers of these countries and meet with heads of state and heads of government. This visit by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will further enhance the political mutual trust between China and these countries, elevate our cooperation in various sectors to a new level, bring new vitality to the long-term development of bilateral relations and make positive contribution to the peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific.
Wang said I have just released information on State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit. We will release information on the specific schedule in due course.
As for framework agreement on the security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands, we have shared information on that on multiple occasions. With the approval of the two governments, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands’ Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele have officially signed the inter-governmental framework agreement on security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands on behalf of the two governments.
Wang said we have noted relevant reports. The US has been putting together small clubs and excluding dissenting voices under the banner of democracy, human rights and anti-corruption. It has been willfully abusing unilateral sanctions and trying to interfering in and manipulating domestic affairs of Latin American countries, which constitute grave infringement on the sovereignty and dignity of regional countries. The US move wins no support. It is guided by the Monroe Doctrine in nature, as the US puts itself above other countries and engages in power politics, hegemony and bullying. Latin American countries, including Guatemala, know this well.
I want to stress that Latin America is not a “front court” or a “backyard” of the US. And the Summit of the Americas is not the Summit of the United States of America. It is China’s position that all regional cooperation frameworks should follow the trend of peace and development, boost mutual trust and cooperation between regional countries, and avoid being selective or exclusive. China welcomes the development of relations between countries in the Americas on the basis of mutual respect, equal treatment and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. We hope the summit can truly focus on the shared agenda of the region, step up solidarity and cooperation, and promote people’s wellbeing.
Wang Wenbin: During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will host the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiji.—PR
