Wang Yi meets Pacific Island political leaders’ delegation

Summary

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, met in Beijing on 9 October with a joint delegation of political leaders from Pacific Island countries led by Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu. Wang said that under the joint guidance of President Xi Jinping and Pacific Island leaders, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Pacific Island countries has become more mature and robust. China has always been a trustworthy and reliable partner for Pacific Island countries, he said, supporting them in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions and chosen by their own people, and in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests.

He stressed that Taiwan is China's territory and that Japan's return of Taiwan to China after World War II forms an important part of the post-war international order. He expressed confidence that Pacific Island countries will continue to abide by the one-China principle. Wang said China's exchanges with Pacific Island countries are South-South cooperation based on mutual help and support, with no interference in their internal affairs, no political conditions attached, no participation in geopolitical rivalry, and no targeting of any third party nor subject to interference by any third party.

China is ready to work with Pacific Island countries to jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, deepen exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen coordination in international and regional multilateral mechanisms, and work together to build a closer China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future. He also noted that the China-Pacific Island Countries Political Party Dialogue is an important platform for parties and political leaders of both sides to exchange ideas, build consensus, learn from each other and expand cooperation. Samiu Vaipulu and other Pacific Island political leaders said that China is a good friend and good partner of Pacific Island countries, and thanked China for its long-term tremendous assistance to their economic and social development.

Pacific Island countries will continue to firmly uphold the one-China policy and are willing to strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure, agriculture, medical care, education, disaster reduction and capacity building, among other fields, to promote regional peace and development.

Commentary

Cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries is extending from infrastructure into new areas such as the digital economy and the blue economy. Tonga, for example, is rich in fishery resources but weak in processing capacity; cold-chain facilities built with Chinese aid have helped add about 30 percent in value to local tuna exports. For NZ SMEs, this presents both competition and opportunities for cooperation: on the one hand, more Chinese infrastructure projects in island countries may squeeze the traditional share of New Zealand construction and logistics firms; on the other hand, as ports and communications networks jointly built by China and island countries improve, New Zealand's tourism and education services can use more convenient logistics and digital channels to expand markets.

Notably, China's emphasis that cooperation carries no political conditions forms a subtle interaction with New Zealand's long-standing Pacific Reset policy. NZ firms need to watch the priority areas of Chinese investment in island countries, such as agricultural technology and renewable energy, which are exactly where New Zealand has comparative advantages. In future, trilateral cooperation models could be explored, for example with New Zealand providing technical training and China providing funding and equipment to jointly develop island country markets.

Keywords: Wang Yi, Pacific Island countries, joint delegation, one-China principle, Political Party Dialogue, South-South cooperation, Belt and Road cooperation, Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

10月9日，中共中央政治局委员、中央外办主任王毅在北京会见以汤加副首相拉图为团长的太平洋岛国政治家联合考察团。王毅表示，在习近平主席和太平洋岛国领导人共同引领下，中国同太平洋岛国全面战略伙伴关系更加成熟稳健，中国始终是太平洋岛国可以信赖和依靠的合作伙伴，支持岛国走出符合自身国情、由人民自主选择的发展道路，支持岛国维护好自身主权、安全、发展利益。他强调台湾是中国领土，二战后日本将窃取的台湾归还中国构成战后国际秩序的重要组成部分，相信太平洋岛国将继续恪守一个中国原则。

王毅表示，中国同太平洋岛国交往是相互帮助支持的南南合作，不干涉岛国内政，不附加政治条件，不参与地缘政治争夺，不针对第三方也不受第三方干扰；中方愿同岛国高质量共建“一带一路”，深化各领域交流与务实合作，加强在国际和地区多边机制中的协作，携手构建更加紧密的中国—太平洋岛国命运共同体。他还指出，中国—太平洋岛国政党对话会是双方政党、政治家交流思想、凝聚共识、互学互鉴、拓展合作的重要平台。拉图等各岛国政要表示，中国是太平洋岛国的好朋友好伙伴，感谢中方长期以来为岛国经济社会发展提供的巨大帮助，岛国将继续坚定奉行一个中国政策，愿同中方加强基础设施建设、农业、医疗、教育、减灾、能力建设等领域合作，促进地区和平发展。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

中国与太平洋岛国的合作正从基础建设向数字经济、蓝色经济等新领域延伸。以汤加为例，其渔业资源丰富但加工能力薄弱，中国援建的冷链设施已帮助当地金枪鱼出口增值约30%。对NZ中小企业而言，这既是竞争也是合作契机：一方面，中国在岛国基建项目增多可能挤压新西兰建筑、物流企业的传统份额；另一方面，中国与岛国共建的港口、通信网络改善后，新西兰的旅游、教育服务可借助更便利的物流和数字通道拓展市场。

值得注意的是，中国强调合作不附加政治条件，这与新西兰长期奉行的太平洋重置政策形成微妙互动。NZ企业需关注中国在岛国投资的重点领域，如农业技术、可再生能源，这些恰是新西兰具有比较优势的行业，未来或可探索三方合作模式，例如新西兰提供技术培训，中国提供资金设备，共同开发岛国市场。

关键词: 王毅, 太平洋岛国, 联合考察团, 一个中国原则, 政党对话会, 南南合作, 共建一带一路, 汤加副首相拉图

Source: Chinese Embassy in New Zealand – China–New Zealand Relations