The People’s Republic of China in Fiji Counselor Wang Xuguang thanked the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Parveen Bala for supporting the China-Fiji relationship.

Additionally, he also thanked him for hard to help youths in Fijian rural communities.

Mr Wang was speaking during the Diwali celebrations organised by the Diwali Committee at the Ba Town Council Hall on October 21.

“The Chinese Embassy has a close cooperative relationship with your ministry,” he said.

“In the past two years, we have assisted the local communities to build two volleyball courts and donated several fibreglass boats to help the employment of the youths.”

“As a major developing country and contributor to the development of the Pacific region. China firmly supports Pacific Island countries in implementing the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific continent.”

He said China was taking a collective approach when focusing its assistance efforts on the pacific region.

“China is ready to synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative with the 2050 strategy so as to support the Pacific Island countries in improving their sustainable self-development capacity and accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” he said.

He said the need to help Fijian villages and rural communities to become more resilient was also a factor that China understood.

“China will continue to deepen cooperation in the perspective of countries in addressing climate change and other challenges and provide support and assistance to the Pacific Island countries to the best of China’s capacity,” he said.

Feedback: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj