China has not received what it wants from 10 Pacific island nations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday urged the Pacific region not to be “too worried” about Beijing’s intentions after a meeting in Fiji with their counterparts from 10 Pacific island nations.

Mr. Wang Yi chaired the meeting with foreign ministers from 10 Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

According to Reuters, the joint draft and five-year action plan that China sent to invited island nations before the meeting showed that Beijing was seeking a far-reaching trade and security agreement in the region.

Mr. Wang Yi (left) at the meeting on May 30. Photo: AP

After the meeting attended by Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Niue and Vanuatu, Mr. Wang acknowledged the island nations had agreed on five areas of cooperation but needed further discussion. to create more consensus. The five areas Mr. Vuong Nghi listed included economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic… but did not include security.

“China will announce its own position and proposals for cooperation with Pacific island nations. In the coming time, we will continue to discuss and consult in depth and continuously to form a more consensus in the future. cooperation,” Wang Yi told reporters in Fiji.

Also according to Wang Yi, some people have questioned China’s motives for being active in the Pacific island nations. However, he stressed that China also supports developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean: “Don’t worry too much and don’t stress too much for China’s development and common prosperity as well as the common prosperity of China and the world. all other developing countries, the aim is to move towards greater harmony, justice and progress of the whole world”.