Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Thursday expressed China's solidarity with the small island developing states, calling for special attention and international help for the islands' development.

Li, who is attending a crucial UN small island meeting on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, said although progress has been made in implementing development programs designed to help the small island countries, they still face "unfavorable external environment."

The Chinese minister put forward four proposals for the development of small island states.

He called for collective response to common threat, and the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks to consider the interests of developing countries including the small island countries.

He also suggested the world address imperative concerns of the small islands, such as climate change, rising sea levels and extreme climate events.

Apart from the two suggestions, Li proposed capacity building and intensified partnership to help these island countries.

The conference, a review meeting of the Implementation of the Program of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, agreed ten years ago in Barbados, highlighted the small islands' concerns and made calls for a global early warning system for natural hazards after the tsunami tragedy in the Indian Ocean.

Li extended the Chinese government's sympathy for countries struck by the tsunami, saying China has pledged 500 million RMB (about US$60 million) in assistance to the affected countries and dispatched rescue teams.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2005)