Fijian Vice President Joni Madraiwiwi and Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase met with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in the Fijian capital Suva on Friday. Both sides spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations.

 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations over 30 years ago, the China-Fiji relations have progressed steadily and seen a frequent exchange of high-level visits and a deepening of political mutual trust, Li said, according to reports reaching Wellington from Suva.

 

Bilateral cooperation in such fields as economics and trade, culture and education has been fruitful and both countries have maintained good coordination in regional and international affairs, Li added.

 

Madraiwiwi and Qarase said that the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum which was successfully held in April provided a good platform for China and Pacific island countries to reinforce their economic and trade cooperation.

 

They expressed their appreciation for China's support for and assistance in their country's construction over the past years.

 

Fiji is willing to broaden the mutual beneficial cooperation with China in such fields as agriculture, trade, investment and tourism, they said.

 

The Fijian leaders also reiterated their country's adherence to the one-China policy.

 

Also on Friday, Li met his Fijian counterpart Kaliopate Tavola and the two exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)