Pacific Island countries seek lasting gains from China ties

Political leaders from Pacific Island countries said China's engagement with the region has focused on supporting development rather than geopolitical competition, and expressed interest in deepening cooperation to strengthen local economies and improve people's livelihoods.

At the sixth China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue in Beijing on Saturday, delegates identified trade and investment, infrastructure, healthcare, education, climate action and marine protection as priorities for further cooperation.

Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Uasike Latu, who led the visiting delegation, said ties with China had steadily strengthened, bringing benefits in areas including education, agriculture and climate resilience.

He cited scholarships for Tongan students to study in China, Chinese technical assistance in agriculture and fisheries, and support for climate-resilient infrastructure as examples of the progress made.

Latu said further cooperation should reflect the priorities of island countries themselves, helping businesses overcome barriers to international markets while strengthening local capacity to use and maintain new technologies.

Such cooperation, he said, should create opportunities that people can see in their daily lives: "a business reaching a new market, a young person gaining a useful skill, or a community better prepared for a natural disaster."

In May 2025, China announced $2 million in funding for climate cooperation with Pacific Island countries and pledged to implement 100 small-scale community projects over three years to strengthen climate resilience.

Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China stands ready to work with Pacific Island countries to explore new approaches to cooperation that enable developing nations to set their own agendas, make decisions through consultations on an equal footing and share development benefits.

Such cooperation could provide practical examples for Global South countries seeking to address common challenges through solidarity and greater self-reliance, Liu said.

He stressed that China respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific Island countries and has never regarded the region as an arena for major-power rivalry.

China is also willing to pursue trilateral and multilateral cooperation with other partners to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Liu called for closer alignment between China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and the development strategies of Pacific Island countries, alongside deeper cooperation in trade, digital technology and green development.

He also emphasized the role of political parties in advancing cooperation, calling for stronger strategic communication, exchanges on governance experience and practical collaboration through the "political parties plus" approach.

Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau, former prime minister of Vanuatu, described the dialogue as a new dimension to ties between China and Pacific Island countries, saying it was bringing the two sides closer together in pursuit of common interests and a shared future.

He said ideas such as equal partnership and a shared future were increasingly taking shape in tangible developments. Citing China's achievements in poverty reduction and its engagement with other countries, he said he believed China was genuinely willing to help countries such as Vanuatu improve people's lives.

Kalsakau also emphasized that each country should be able to pursue its own development path, describing China as an equal partner that respected the choices of others rather than seeking control.

He said the dialogue had provided opportunities for Pacific representatives to discuss their priorities directly with Chinese officials, allowing the two sides to identify areas for further cooperation.

"They listen to us," he said, emphasizing the importance of regular exchanges built on mutual respect.

Morris Tovebae, general secretary of Papua New Guinea's ruling Pangu Pati, reaffirmed his party's commitment to the one-China principle, describing it as a foundation of bilateral relations as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic ties this year.

He also highlighted the impact of 26 years of Juncao technology cooperation, saying it had improved livelihoods and contributed to his country's development.

He said communities, including those on remote islands, had benefited from mushroom cultivation, with locally grown mushrooms now being sold in markets and supermarkets. Efforts were also underway to explore export opportunities, he added.

Beyond economic cooperation, Tovebae was particularly enthusiastic about learning from China's experience in political party organization and governance.

Having visited China about 17 times and witnessed its transformation, he said he had come to believe that the CPC's strong organizational system and leadership were central to the country's development achievements.

Tovebae said he was eager "to learn how the party system works here", hoping to draw on that experience to advance reforms within Pangu Pati so that the party could better serve not only its members but the country as a whole.