中国日报福州7月21日电 7月20日，中国—太平洋岛国减贫与发展合作中心启用仪式在福州举行。福建省委书记尹力在仪式上致辞，省长赵龙出席。与会嘉宾共同为合作中心揭牌，并见证相关合作项目签约。
启用仪式上，外交部副部长谢锋，国家乡村振兴局副局长夏更生，斐济议会副议长、妇女儿童和减贫事务部助理部长巴特纳格尔，太平洋岛国驻华使节团团长、所罗门群岛驻华大使约翰·傅桂分别通过视频或在现场致辞。
尹力强调，在首次中国—太平洋岛国外长会上，中国—太平洋岛国减贫与发展合作中心宣布成立。此次合作中心的启用，开启了福建与太平洋岛国合作的新篇章，将有力促进我国与太平洋岛国共同发展。福建将发挥特色优势，深化与太平洋岛国的务实合作，共商共建共享，实现互利共赢。希望我们共同分享脱贫攻坚经验，推进菌草技术等国际合作，更好造福当地人民；共同融入“一带一路”建设，拓展多双边经贸往来，推动各领域合作不断深化；共同开展文化合作，推动民众友好往来，促进文明交流互鉴，进一步搭建友谊桥梁，为服务中国—太平洋岛国关系大局作出新贡献。
启用仪式前，尹力、赵龙等省领导还会见了太平洋岛国驻华使节团一行。省领导郭宁宁、吴偕林参加有关活动。我国驻太平洋岛国部分大使等通过视频参加启用仪式。
如今，福建与46个国家建立了120对友城关系，国际“朋友圈”不断扩大，合作互动不断密切。
Achievements: cooperation between Fujian province and Pacific Island countries
Preface
In 2000, Fujian province and Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea established sister-province relationship, kicking off exchanges and cooperation between the province and the Pacific Island countries. Starting with exchanges on Juncao technology, Fujian province has continuously strengthened friendly interactions with Pacific Island countries, and expanded the fields of cooperation with positive results.
I. Government-to-government cooperation,
Sister-province relationships
In May 2000, the then-governor of Fujian, Xi Jinping, and the then-governor of Eastern Highlands Province, Peti Lafanama, signed the agreement on the establishment of sister-province relationship between the two provinces. Since then, the two provincial governments have maintained close exchanges. The Eastern Highlands provincial government has sent delegations to Fujian seven times, and four Fujian provincial leaders have led teams to Eastern Highlands.
In July 2021, Fujian province and Western Province of the Solomon Islands signed a letter of intent for the establishment of sister-province relationship.
Project cooperation
Thanks to the efforts of the then-governor of Fujian, Xi Jinping, Fujian started the Juncao and upland rice technology project in Eastern Highlands Province of PNG in 2001. Up to now, three phases of the project have been implemented, with a total of seven technical training courses held and 623 personnel trained. The project has played an important role in reducing poverty, increasing income and ensuring food security in Eastern Highlands.
In November 2020, at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of their sister-province relationship, Fujian province and Eastern Highlands Province signed an agreement to further strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation.
II. Cooperation in poverty reduction and alleviation,
Juncao technology cooperation
In November 2018, during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Papua New Guinea, governments of the two countries exchanged documents for a demonstration project to help PNG with mushroom and upland rice planting. The project was launched by the National Juncao Engineering Technology Research Center of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in August 2019, and a demonstration base was built in Eastern Highlands Province thereafter. At present, the first phase of the project has been completed, with 18 technical training courses held and a total of 1,241 personnel trained. The technology has been introduced to 16 regions in eight provinces of PNG.
The China-Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Center in Fiji was established in 2014 with joint support from the leaders of both countries. Two phases of technical cooperation has been carried out with assistance from the National Juncao Engineering Technology Research Center of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. Thirty-nine technical training courses have been held and 1,704 personnel trained in Fiji. Forty-five Fijian agricultural officials and technicians have participated in trainings held at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.
In November 2019, the National Juncao Engineering Technology Research Center sent two experts to Samoa for a preliminary study on Juncao technology training. In December 2020 and February 2021, two online training courses on Juncao technology were successfully held with 82 trainees.
III. Project investment cooperation
Infrastructure
The PNG branch of China Wuyi Company has been actively involved in local infrastructure development projects, including the Ela Beach Apartment and Office Building in Port Moresby, Henganofi Highway, CW2 Highway, and the Goroka Market.
Fishery
In November 2020, Fujian Zhonghong Fishery Co, Ltd signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Fisheries of Papua New Guinea and the Western Province on building the “Comprehensive Multifunctional Fishery Industrial Park” on Daru Island in Western Province.
IV. Cultural, educational and health exchanges and cooperation
Culture
In 2010, six Austronesian descendants from French Polynesia set off in a canoe from Tahiti for Fujian in search of their ancestral roots.
In December 2017, Fujian Experimental Min Opera Theater staged a performance in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the China-Papua New Guinea Friendship Federation.
In May 2020, Fujian province and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries invited diplomatic envoys from South Pacific Island countries to Fujian to gain an in-depth understanding of the Austronesian culture of Pingtan.
Education
In October 2018, Fujian Business University and East New Britain Province of PNG signed an educational cooperation framework agreement. In October 2019, the university welcomed the first group of eight students from Papua New Guinea.
Health
In May 2020, Fujian province donated a total of 20,000 medical protective masks and 30,000 disposable medical masks to the Papua New Guinean government and Eastern Highlands Province to support their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
V. Maritime cooperation
In September 2017, the China-Island Countries Ocean-related Ministerial Roundtable was held in Pingtan, Fujian. Representatives from 12 island countries, including Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa, on four continents attended the meeting. The meeting covered such topics as blue economy, marine environmental protection, and sustainable development of islands, and adopted the Pingtan Declaration.
In September 2021, the Forum on Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development of China-Pacific Island Countries was held in Pingtan, Fujian. Nearly 100 guests, including 13 diplomatic envoys from Pacific Island countries, attended the forum and held discussions on issues including cooperation in marine economy and sustainable development of islands.
Prospects
Today, Fujian Province is making great efforts to promote the building of the core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the “Silk Road Partnership”. Pacific Island countries are located in the extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The two sides enjoy broad prospects for exchanges and cooperation. By tapping to its local resources and advantages, Fujian will step up cooperation with local governments of Pacific Island countries in broader areas and enhance people-to-people exchanges, so as to contribute to advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Pacific Island countries.
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