On August 31, 2012, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, as the representative of the Chinese government, attended the 24th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) held in Avarua, the Cook Islands. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands Xu Jianguo and Chinese Special Envoy to the China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue Li Qiangmin accompanied Vice Foreign Minister Cui in related activities.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui said at the meeting that as a sincere friend and partner of the island countries, the Chinese side attaches great importance to developing relations with the Pacific island countries. China actively carries out friendly exchanges with island countries on the basis of adhering to the five principles of peaceful coexistence and treating every country, big or small, as equal members of the international community. China strives to expand pragmatic cooperation with island countries in economic, trade and other fields, and supports the efforts of every island country to participate in international affairs on an equal footing. China’s policies towards island countries aim at promoting peace, seeking stability, and pursuing development. China will always put the needs and interests of island countries in the first place and strive to do more practical work for economic and social development of island countries. Cui also introduced China’s new initiatives to support island countries to achieve economic sustainable development, develop and protect marine resources, cope with climate change, and fulfill the Millennium Development Goals.

The members of the Forum welcomed the Chinese government to attend the dialogue for 23 successive years. They highly appreciated China's positive efforts ​​in promoting economic and social development of the Pacific island countries and China’s support and help to island countries in international affairs. They looked forward to enhancing cooperation with the Chinese side in a wide range of areas so as to push forward the continuous development of bilateral friendly relations.

During the dialogue, Cui met separately with the leaders Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum and other participating delegates. He also attended the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Cook Islands. Vice Foreign Minister Cui, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Henry Tuakeu Puna and Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key jointly issued a statement on the water supply cooperation project for the Cook Islands.

The leaders or government representatives of the 15 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum and representatives of the 14 dialogue partners including the United States, Japan, the EU, and India, attended the dialogue.