Fijian president vows to maintain one-China policy

Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere said on Monday that his country has been proud of the strong relations with China and will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Fijian president expressed gratitude to China for providing his country with selfless support and assistance.

The president said China's support had facilitated Fiji in speeding up economic development and improving the livelihood of the Fijian people.

He said Fiji and China enjoyed a long history of friendly exchanges and Fiji stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in all fields so as to achieve common development and prosperity.

On his part, Wang said China's development and revitalisation were the common achievement of the developing countries and a growing force for world peace.

He said China would have more resources and be more powerful in safeguarding the legitimate interests of the developing countries on the international arena.

He noted that some forces were unwilling to see China's development and growth and had attempted to contain, hold up and disrupt China's development process.

He added that great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation was irreversible and China would continue to strengthen unity with the developing countries to realise common development on the basis of mutual trust and mutual support.

Wang said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 47 years ago, China-Fiji relations had withstood various risks and challenges.

"No matter how the international and regional situation changed, China has always pursued a friendly policy towards Fiji and supported it in achieving economic prosperity and playing a bigger role on the regional and international arenas."

Wang is paying a visit to Fiji, the fourth leg of his tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste.