China's top diplomat to chair third China-Pacific Island countries foreign ministers' meeting

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will chair the Third China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xiamen, Fujian Province from May 28 to 29, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

Foreign ministers or representatives from 11 island countries having diplomatic relations with China, namely President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau of Kiribati, Premier and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi of Niue, Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala of Tonga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Rouwen Aingimea of Nauru, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert of Federated States of Micronesia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka of Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati of Vanuatu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana of the Cook Islands, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua of Fiji, and representative of the government of Samoa and Ambassador of Samoa to China Luamanuvae A. Mariner, and Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Esala Nayasi will attend the meeting upon invitation, according to the spokesperson.

Spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference that China and PICs are comprehensive strategic partners committed to mutual respect and common development. She added that the two sides have deepened and advanced friendly ties and cooperation in recent years.

Mao noted that it is the first time the meeting will be held in person in China, adding that there will be an in-depth exchange of views on interactions and cooperation between China and PICs in all aspects and international and regional issues of mutual interest.

China highly values its ties with PICs and hopes that this meeting will help drive the implementation of the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two sides, enhance solidarity and coordination, unite efforts for development and prosperity, and galvanize an even closer community with a shared future between China and PICs, Mao said. ■