1.    Welcoming remarks

 

Excellency,

I wish to firstly extend to you and your delegation our warm greetings; Ni Sa Bula Vinaka And Ni Hao. 

At the same time, I wish to welcome you and also thank you for taking the time to visit us. We are really appreciative of this kind gesture as it demonstrates the commitment of the People’s Republic of China towards the deepening of relations between our two countries. 

Excellency, on our part, please be assured of our unwavering commitment towards the strengthening of our relations in our endeavour to further advance issues that are of common interest to us.

Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in November 1975, we have witnessed how our relations have grown from strength to strength.

The high-level visits by delegations to each of our countries are clear indications of our friendship. More recently, the historic visit to Nadi in 2006 by Premier Wen Jiabao, followed by recent visits of high level government officials are good examples of this strengthening of ties.  Our delegations have also enjoyed your hospitality for which we are very grateful.

Excellency, we share a lot in common, and we have learnt a lot from your beloved country. I congratulate you for all the assistance that you have been providing to us over the years.  Your country has remained steadfast beside us when we needed friends and we appreciate the ways in which you have conducted your foreign policy based on the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference. 

We have gained tremendously in the areas of trade, economic development, politics and in many other sectors due to the assistance by the PRC.  On our part, we remain firm on our position in relation to the ‘One China Policy’. We hope to enhance our relations on trade and tourism and also our people to people exchanges.

We look forward to learning more from you and working with you in achieving our common goals and aspirations.  Your Excellency, please be assured of our continuous support and cooperation towards this end.

With these few words, Excellency, we hope that you will enjoy your stay in Fiji.

Vinaka vakalevu!!

2.    Political relations

Fiji and PRC established diplomatic relations in 1975. We would like to thank you for your commitment towards the Republic of Fiji as our relations has broadened to encompass a wide range of areas of common interest including agriculture, education, trade, economic, telecommunication, information technology and other development sectors.

In the last 10 years, there has been enhanced bilateral exchange of senior government officials and high-level delegations which is an indication of the deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.  

We envisage that high level visits in both directions is a positive trend that should continue ahead of us. 

3.    One China Policy

Fiji is steadfast in its commitment to the One China Policy in accordance with the principles and spirit of the UN Charter. 

Fiji recognizes and honours of the one china policy. Although Fiji and Taiwan enjoy good trade and economic relations, Fiji sees Taiwan as an integral part of china

4.    Appreciation of assistance from PRC

The Republic of Fiji also wishes to reiterate its sincere appreciation in the following areas.         

a.    China’s technical assistance: agriculture, extraction of minerals, tourism and training programs- the latest being CELAP- China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong.

 

b.    The Fijian government has also been able to access Chinese government’s concessional loans worth $285 million through the Export-Import Bank of China to upgrade its infrastructure- road links, hospitals, public housing projects and enhance it capabilities.

 

Fiji - China Friendship Association

Appreciate the importance of the established Fiji-China Friendship Association to our bilateral relations. The current President of the Association is Dr. Jiko Luveni, Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation.

We are certain that the Association will further strengthen existing ties between our two countries and infiltrate down to its peoples.

 

Visa Arrangements

 

Your Excellency, over the years, we have established visa arrangements for Chinese visitors visiting Fiji for visas to be stamped on arrival.  We would like to request if you could look into having the same arrangement for Fijians visiting your great country.

 

Conclusion

Your Excellency,

We certainly hope that this visit will be a fruitful and rewarding one for you and we wish to reiterate that we look forward to preserving our cordial relations in our future engagements.

-Ends-