Island countries offered ride on China's development train

China welcomes Pacific island countries to take a ride on the express train of its development by promoting all-around cooperation, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

In the keynote speech during a meeting in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, with the leaders of Pacific island countries, Xi said China supports the countries in developing their economies, improving people's livelihoods and increasing the capacity for independent development.

China and Pacific island countries have strong complementarities in economy, and there is tremendous potential for partnership, Xi said. He added that the common interests between them have increased under new global circumstances, and the foundation for cooperation has expanded rather than narrowed.

To deepen relations, China is ready to hold the third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum in the second half of next year, he said, and will promote activities of the China-Pacific Island Countries Year of Tourism 2019.

Calling Pacific island countries good friends, partners and brothers, Xi said China has treated the countries as equals and respected their choice of development paths that suit their particular national conditions.

China is willing to open its market to Pacific island countries, expand investment and increase imports from them, Xi said, adding that peace, development and win-win cooperation are the only right choice.

Xi highlighted Pacific island countries' special concerns over climate change, saying China attaches great importance to this issue and will provide assistance to them within its capacity.

Echoing Xi, the leaders said they consider China as an important partner in realizing their development vision, enhancing people's well-being and coping with global challenges, and they cherish the relationship with China and firmly uphold the one-China policy.

The leaders said they appreciated China's long-term assistance, which has been provided with no political strings attached. They also expressed hope for strengthened cooperation with China in such fields as trade, investment, fisheries, tourism and infrastructure.

Xu Xiujun, a senior researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the meeting was conducive to building an even stronger bond between China and Pacific island countries.

The Pacific island countries have great synergy in their development strategy with China, which creates opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership, Xu said.

In addition, China and Pacific island countries have tremendous cooperation potential in such fields as infrastructure and production capacity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.