China’s New Ambassador to Fiji Delivers Arrival Message
2023-01-31 18:40


On January 31, 2023, the new Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Mr. Zhou Jian arrived in Suva. The Fijian government representatives greeted Ambassador Zhou at the Nausori International airport. Political Counsellor Wang Xuguang, Commercial CounsellorMa Guoliang of the Embassy and the representatives of Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese in Fiji also welcomed Ambassador Zhou at the airport. Ambassador Zhou delivered a written speech upon arrival entitled Work Together for a Brighter Tomorrow of the China-Fiji Community with a Shared Future.

Ambassador Zhou pointed out that, Fiji has beautiful scenery, kind people and splendidculture. Itisalso a leading country in international and regional affairs, an important contributor to international peacekeeping operations, and a leader of rugby. He is looking forward to assimilating into Fijian society as soon as possible, stepping into rural communities, understanding local customs, feeling the diverse culture, and learning the valuable experience of Fijian people living in harmony with nature.

The Ambassador stressed that, among the Pacific Island Countries(PICs), Fiji enjoys the longest history, the earliest diplomatic ties and the most solid cooperation with China. As early as more than 160 years ago, the Chinese traveled across thevast ocean to Fiji and became an important part of Fiji’s multi-ethnic society, making contributions to Fiji’s economic and social development.Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975, China and Fiji have always respected and supported each other for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, setting a model of equal treatment, solidarity and cooperation among big and small countries. In November 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Papua New Guinea with leaders or government representatives of the PICs that have diplomatic relations with China and unanimously agreed to elevate China-PICs relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, which created a new situation of all round cooperation between China and Fiji.In recent years, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Global Development Initiative, the two sides have deepened cooperation in economy, trade, investment, infrastructure, people-to-people and sub-national exchanges, supported each other on issues concerning mutual core interests and had close coordination on international and regional issues, so that brought tangible benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, and played an important role in the development and prosperity of this region and the harmony and stability of the world. China-Fiji relations have become the frontrunner of China's relations with PICs and a benchmark for South-South cooperation.

Ambassador Zhou said, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully convenedin last October. An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. This March, China will elect a new government leadership. Fiji’s new government has taken office and is working with other PICs towards the goal of the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent”. Therefore, China-Fiji relations are standing at a new historical starting point.Now, China and Fiji are facing the same task of development, and both are committed to improving the well-being of the people. The two sides share profound friendship, integrated culture and complementary economy. The potential forour cooperationis huge and the prospects of China-Fiji relationsis bright and broad.This year is the Year of the Rabbit in China. It is expected that China and Fiji, like the Yutu (jade rabbit), will leverage each other's ingenuity and wisdom, act with the agility of time and under the strategic guidance of the leaders of our two countries, carry forward the traditional friendship, accelerate the synergy of development strategies, listen to the demands of the two peoples, so as to jointly draw the latest and most beautiful picture for China-Fiji relationsand create a brighter tomorrow for the China-Fiji community with a shared future.