The Chinese Government donated a further 310,000 Fijian dollar (150,000 US dollar) in support of Fiji's response to COVID-19 and economic recovery efforts. Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo and Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama attended the handover ceremony on Monday, both sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in tackling COVID-19 outbreak and other fields.

This is part of China's additional US$ 1 million cash assistance to Pacific island countries, which was announced during the Second Vice Foreign Ministers' Special Meeting on COVID-19 between China and the Pacific Island Countries on November 30, 2020. With the announcement of this donation, China's contribution to the "China–Pacific Island Countries Anti-COVID-19 Cooperation Fund" came to a total of US$ 3.4 million.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Qian said that China will continue to take more measures to support Fiji with its COVID-19 response and economic recovery. We are speeding up the phase III clinical trials of our vaccines. Once developed and deployed, we will make them global public goods, as part of its contribution to vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries, including Fiji and other Pacific island countries.

China will, in the context of regular pandemic prevention and control, build "fast tracks" for personnel exchanges and "green lanes" for the flow of goods with island countries, and continue to discuss with Fijian side on the opening of direct flights between the two countries.

China will fully implement the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and put off debt repayment,helping Pacific island countries ease potential solvency risks and promote post-pandemic economic recovery.

Moreover, China will also enhance cooperation with Fiji in the fields of trade, e-commerce, education and personnel training in the next stage.

Ambassador Qian expressed China's willingness to work closely with the Government of Fiji to continuously promote traditional friendly relations between the two countries, deepen bilateral cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and peoples.