China promises to help Fiji tackle climate change as Beijing seeks greater Pacific role
- President Xi Jinping made the pledge along with promises of economic support in a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
China has pledged to support Fiji’s development and help tackle the impact of climate change during Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to Beijing.
President Xi Jinping, who met Rabuka on Tuesday, told him that China attaches “great importance” to the relationship and “is willing to continue to provide assistance to Fiji in economic and social development”.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that he also said China is ready to assist Fiji and other Pacific island countries “in dealing with climate change” and work to make the Pacific Ocean “an ocean of peace, friendship and cooperation”.
In turn, Rabuka expressed interest in learning from China’s successes in fighting poverty and developing its infrastructure, according to CCTV.
Rabuka’s first visit as prime minister comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Pacific, where various global powers are seeking to assert their influence.
