On July 20, 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center was officially inaugurated in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province. Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng attended the inauguration ceremony via video link and delivered a speech. Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Yin Li, Governor of Fujian Province Zhao Long, Executive Vice Governor Guo Ningning, Vice Administrator of the National Rural Revitalization Administration Xia Gengsheng, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Kumar Bhatnagar as well as diplomatic envoys to China and representatives of Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and other Pacific Island countries were present.

Xie Feng said in the speech that last September, President Xi Jinping said in his phone conversation with leaders of Pacific Island countries (PICs) that China planned to set up a China-Pacific Island Countries Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center to help PICs to find the path of poverty alleviation and development suited to their national conditions. At the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting last October, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the launch of setting up the center. This is a vivid practice of China's active implementation of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and participation in international poverty alleviation cooperation, and an important measure to help PICs achieve development and revitalization.

Xie Feng said, poverty eradication is the common aspiration of mankind and an important mission of developing countries. Poverty alleviation and development are like two wheels of a vehicle and the two wings of a bird, which supplement each other. Poverty alleviation makes way for better development; without development, there will be a return to poverty. President Xi Jinping solemnly declared at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China that China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects and has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty. China has realized the poverty alleviation goal under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule, creating a "China example" of poverty alleviation. While eradicating poverty domestically, China has also actively fulfilled its international responsibility for poverty alleviation and provided assistance to other developing countries to the best of its ability, and has always been an active advocate and strong promoter of international poverty alleviation and development. Last year, President Xi Jinping put forward the GDI, which prioritizes poverty alleviation as a key area of cooperation. The GDI meets the urgent expectation of the international community for poverty eradication and meets the common aspiration of people around the world for a better life.

Xie Feng said, Fujian Province, a large maritime province and the birthplace of the Austronesian language family, enjoys geographical proximity, cultural affinity and complementary development advantages with PICs. As early as 2000, when President Xi Jinping served as the Governor of Fujian Province, he personally promoted the establishment of sister-province relations between Fujian Province and the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, and the implementation of Juncao and upland rice technical assistance projects in Papua New Guinea. At present, the Juncao project has spread from Papua New Guinea to many island countries, raising the income of local farmers and generating fine economic and social benefits. It has become a gold-lettered signboard of poverty alleviation and development cooperation between China and PICs. By locating the center in Fujian, China aims to give full play to Fujian's unique advantages, work with PICs to set a new exemplary model for South-South cooperation on poverty alleviation, and make greater contributions to poverty alleviation and development in PICs.

Xie Feng said, China is always a member of the developing world, and we have stood and will continue to stand with developing countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties half a century ago, China has always treated PICs as equals and sincerely helped them to pursue development, revitalization and take control of their own destiny. PICs are not the "backyard" or "sphere of influence" of any country. Their sovereign dignity should be fully respected and their right to development should be fully guaranteed. China is ready to contribute its strength to the development of PICs and welcomes them aboard the express train of China's development. China will always be a good friend sharing the same goal, a good brother sharing weal and woe, and a good partner forging ahead together of PICs on the path of development and revitalization. China is ready to work with PICs to institutionalize and standardize the operation of the center under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, build more brand projects, and continue to improve the well-being of the people of PICs through tangible cooperation outcomes.