Premier Wen in Fiji for visit, economic forum

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-04 14:31

NADI, Fiji -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived here Tuesday, starting his official visit to the island country of Fiji.

It is the maiden visit paid by a Chinese premier to the island countries in the Pacific Ocean.

Premier Wen in Fiji for visit, economic forum

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech whilst wearing a traditional garland around his neck during a traditional welcoming ceremony in Nadi, Fiji April 5, 2006. Wen is on a two-day trip to the South Pacific nation where he will meet local leaders and speak at the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum. He will then travel to New Zealand and Cambodia. [Reuters]

Wen made the tour at the invitation of Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who hosted a ceremony to welcome Wen and the whole Chinese delegation when Wen's special plane landed on Nadi, a major tourist and civil aviation destination in the Pacific Ocean.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wen said though the vast Pacific Ocean keeps China and Fiji far apart, there are long-standing exchanges and friendship between the two peoples.

Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1975, which ushered in a new era in bilateral relations, he said.

According to the Chinese premier, in the past 30 year since then, thanks to the concerted efforts of the two countries, great strides have been made in friendly and cooperative relations between China and Fiji, marked by increasingly frequent exchanges at all levels, productive interaction and cooperation in trade, economy, culture, education, health and other fields and deepened friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

It serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and contributes to prosperity and development in the region to enrich and deepen China-Fiji friendship and cooperation, he said.

Wen is scheduled to meet with Fijian President Josefa Iloilo and hold talks with Prime Minister Qarase later Tuesday.

During the stay, Wen is also to attend the opening ceremony of the first ministerial meeting of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum, due to open on Wednesday, and make a keynote speech. Wen said he "will have discussions with leaders of the island countries on important issues of promoting cooperation and common development."

Fiji is the second-leg of Wen's four-nation tour following Australia. After Fiji, Wen will also visit New Zealand and Cambodia.