Kiribati Vice President Teuea Toatu said on Friday that his country was looking forward to carrying out more cooperation with China in various areas.
Toati listed the areas as development planning, infrastructure, anti-pandemic, climate change and maritime development.
He made the remarks when meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tarawa, the capital of the South Pacific island country.
Toatu welcomed Wang and the Chinese delegation who made the visit in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also expressed gratitude for the support and assistance from the Chinese side.
Kiribati valued its relationship with China and would continue to adhere to the One-China policy, he said, adding that China was a true partner for Kiribati’s development.
Wang said during the meeting that China was always a trustworthy friend to developing countries, especially those small and medium-sized countries.
China would continue to support other developing countries in speeding up development and improving people’s livelihoods.
China and Kiribati treated each other with equity and mutual respect, and the two countries’ cooperation served their shared interests, he added.
China would back Kiribati in promoting its 20-year development plan and providing the Pacific island nation with aid based on Kiribati’s needs.
China is willing to help Kiribati protect and make better use of its marine resources.
Wang also stressed that China understood the special concerns of Pacific island countries on the climate change issue.
China would continue to promote full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and continue to provide support and assistance to Kiribati in enhancing its capacity to respond to climate change, he said.
Kiribati is the second leg of Wang’s tour to the South Pacific island nations, which would also take him to Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste.
He arrived in Tarawa after a trip to the Solomon Islands.
NAN
