Trade with Pacific islands to reach $2b

XIAMEN: Trade between China and Pacific island countries is expected to reach $2 billion by the end of this year, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said yesterday.

The two sides aim to increase trade to $3 billion by 2010, Chen told the ministerial conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.

"The economies of China and Pacific island countries are complementary, and there is great potential for future cooperation, " he told the senior officials of 11 Pacific island countries at the forum.