Roots that cross the Pacific

Hand in hand

As one of the latest chapters in the two-way friendship between China and Fiji, the Chinese People's Liberation Army's navy hospital ship, the Silk Road Ark, completed a seven-day visit to the country in October to provide medical services, before sailing on to Tonga.

The ship's itinerary has been named "Mission Harmony-2025", and during its stay in Fiji, the Chinese medical personnel provided treatment to 3,330 people, performed 426 surgeries, and carried out 2,531 examinations and tests, Xinhua news agency reported.

Pio Tikoduadua, Fiji's Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs, said that the Silk Road Ark has delivered tangible benefits to the Fijian community, representing a welcome symbol of care, service, and goodwill.

On Nov 5, the day marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka respectively to jointly celebrate the historical moment.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, "The China-Fiji friendship has taken deep roots among our peoples.

"In recent years, our high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has produced fruitful results and benefited both peoples."

Ambassador Lee said, "On the 5th of November 1975, our political leaders decided to establish formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, a step that has proven to be one of the most important strategic decisions for Fiji in the post-independence era."

The ties have matured from their preliminary framework into a multifaceted and vibrant strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, a partnership that links the people, cultures, and shared ambitions, he said.

He emphasized that Fiji adheres to the one-China principle, "a fundamental pillar of our diplomatic ties".

According to China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade volume reached $534 million last year, marking a 1.5 percent year-on-year increase.

China is now the second-largest economy in the world as well as "a leading voice for South-South cooperation across many fields, including climate change, green energy, and sustainable development", Lee said.

"China has been a steadfast development partner of Fiji and has made significant contributions to the building of our infrastructure, including the upgrading of hundreds of kilometers of our road network and the construction of bridges and hydroelectric dams," he added.

He also thanked China for playing a major role in the education and training of Fijian people, in its delivery of medical services and supplies — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic — and in climate change adaptation and disaster management.

Shen Xin, vice-president of the CPAFFC, noted that both China and Fiji are members of the Global South, and the two countries "have set an example of equality and friendly cooperation between nations of different sizes".

"As good friends, good partners and good brothers, the two sides have supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests," he said at the October reception.

China stands ready to work with Fiji to strengthen cooperation in development, advance together on their path to modernization, and promote the building of a China-Fiji community with a shared future, he added.