SUVA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Officials from both China and Fiji said the sports facility aided by China will benefit the local community as the facility was handed over on Wednesday to Fiji in the capital city of Suva.

Speaking at a grand opening ceremony of a new volleyball court in Nakasi, a suburb of Suva, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said this project is a clear demonstration of China's support to the development of Fijian community.

"This volleyball court provides a good sports facility for the youths in the community. The young generation can hold activities and sports matches here to spend their spare time," he said.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two sides and also the 50th anniversary of independence of Fiji, he said, adding that in recent years, under the guidance of the leaders of both countries, China and Fiji have witnessed rapid development in bilateral relations based on mutual respect, equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation and common development.

Qian said the fruitful economic and trade cooperation has benefited both sides while people-to-people exchange, which serves as a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship between the people, has also made great progress over the decades.

The ambassador also voiced his willingness to explore more opportunities for cooperation to help Fijian youths and communities.

For his part, Fiji's Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar Bala thanked China for the sports facility, saying that such a top-class facility will have a great positive impact on the community of Nakasi as it will promote health and wellbeing for the community and also identify some talents that will be representing Fiji in sports.

He also hailed the good relationship between the two countries.

"Fiji and China have shared an excellent relationship history, we have come a very long way and have become family friends as I may say. In the past years we have seen a lot of initiatives from both sides collaborating in the area of youth and sports development," he said.

The minister stressed that with sports as an enabler, the Fiji and China relationship has been made stronger moving forward during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Song Tianpeng, general manager of China Railway No.1 Engineering Group in Fiji, told Xinhua that as the contractor of this project, his company is very glad for constructing such a high standard volleyball court in Suva.

"We are very happy to complete this high quality volleyball court that will benefit the Fijian community, and we are also very happy for doing something that will benefit the good relationship between our two countries," he said. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)