Zhuhai, December 23rd— The China-Pacific Island Countries Business Dialogue is held here today. Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Cang Feng, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Chen Yong, Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Working Committee of Hengqin of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Viliami Latu, Minister of Trade and Economic Development of Tonga, and others attended and addressed the function.

Zhao said, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are the cornerstones of China's relations with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), while the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to provide important support for practical cooperation between both sides. The Chinese side is willing to give full play to the role of the platform of "political parties + practical cooperation", implement the important consensus reached at the group meeting between President Xi Jinping and leaders of the PICs, better help the political and business circles of PICs participate in high-quality joint construction of the BRI, and continuously push China's practical cooperation with the PICs for high-quality development.

Cang said, the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province attach great importance to practical cooperation with the PICs. In recent years, the two sides have made remarkable achievements in cooperation in infrastructure construction, agriculture, forestry, fishery, energy resources and other fields, injecting new vitality into the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Guangdong is willing to vigorously promote cooperation between the two sides in connectivity, investment, trade, culture and tourism, and promote the economic and social development of the PICs.

Chen said, Zhuhai and the PICs, though oceans apart, enjoy close friendly exchanges and a good foundation for cooperation. Both sides have continuously expanded exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, youth, agriculture and fishery, and achieved fruitful results. Zhuhai is willing to establish closer ties with the business communities of the PICs, continuously expand practical cooperation between the two sides in various fields, and strive to create a model of people-to-people bonds.

Latu said, the PICs thanked China for the development assistance and spoke positively of the huge opportunities the BRI provided for the development of the PICs. The PICs are willing to stay united and, together with China, build high-quality BRI, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and become friends and partners who support each other and contribute to each other's successes.

The dialogue was co-organized by the China Economic Cooperation Center, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and Zhuhai Municipal People's Government. Nearly 100 representatives from the government departments, business associations, and entrepreneurs from Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guangdong Province and Zhuhai city were present. After the dialogue, Chinese and foreign enterprises had exchanges and achieved good results.

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