More Help From China

To assist Fiji in its fight against climate change, China has come forth with a number of proposals.

This was revealed at a media brief­ing earlier this week where Chinese Ambassador Zhou Jian outlined projects designed to help Fiji com­bat changes in climatic conditions.

He said this was in line with dis­cussions involving Chinese Presi­dent Xi Jinping and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in San Francisco last week.

He said since last April, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Cooperation Centre was launched in Shandong Province of China.

The facility would act as a plat­form for cooperation on ways to deal with climate change Pacific Island countries.

The Chinese government and Fiji have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Provision of Goods under South-South Coopera­tion to address climate change.

In March, a project aimed at pro­viding LED lights for Fiji roads and solar power systems for households around the country was launched.

This saw families receiving 4300 sets of LED streetlight heads, 50 lamp posts and 2000 household so­lar power system.

Two weeks ago, a delegation from the province of Zhejiang visited Fiji with plans to produce clean en­ergy.

“Their proposal is to generate solar energy by inviting Chinese companies to come to Fiji and in­stall solar energy for free on roofs of houses,” Mr Zhou said.

“This is to generate solar energy which can then be sold to the coun­try.”

Mr Zhou proposed the construc­tion of a waste processing factory for Fiji, particularly as some house­holds still use pit toilets.

“While processing waste, they can also innovate electricity.

“They can also turn the waste into bricks for infrastructure.”

There are plans to set up an assem­bling factory of electric vehicle and sell them in Fiji.

“Second-hand cars are expensive in Fiji, but this price could buy you a new electric vehicle.”

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