China hosts its own Pacific island talks on last day of regional forum

Virtual meeting was attended by senior political figures and businesspeople from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea

Liaison unit chief Liu Jianchao said Beijing was willing to work with its ‘brothers’ to promote belt and road projects and tackle climate change

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Leaders arrive for the family photo at the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, Fiji on Thursday. China held virtual talks the same day with political figures and businesspeople from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00am, 15 Jul 2022

China has hosted virtual talks with senior political figures from Pacific island nations amid a diplomatic push from the United States and its allies as they seek to counter Beijing’s influence in the region.

Thursday’s meeting coincided with the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum, a four-day regional gathering in the Fijian capital Suva.

It was the second China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue, hosted by the Communist Party’s International Liaison Department and attended by officials, leaders of political parties and businesspeople from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea via video link.

It comes amid increasing geopolitical competition in the Pacific between China and the US and its allies. China signed a security pact with Solomon Islands in April, raising concern in the region that Beijing could be allowed to build a military base in the country, which Honiara has denied. The US, meanwhile, has vowed to strengthen ties with Pacific island nations and promised more aid, as has Australia.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, liaison department head Liu Jianchao said China was willing to work with its Pacific island “brothers” to promote projects under the Belt and Road Initiative – Beijing’s vast trade and infrastructure scheme – and to tackle challenges such as climate change.

Liu called on all parties to adhere to “mutual respect, mutual assistance, openness and inclusiveness” to promote regional peace and development, according to the liaison department.

He said the China-Pacific island dialogue – first held in May last year – had become an important platform to strengthen strategic communication and promote practical cooperation between the nations.

Liu Jianchao, head of the party’s International Liaison Department. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images