On July 4, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Vanuatu Prime Minister Nipake Edward Natapei, who was on a working visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional issues of common concern in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Wen said that the Chinese people cherished friendly feelings towards the Vanuatu people and firmly supported the campaign by the people of Vanuatu for national self-determination and against colonial rule in the pre-independence era. China has also offered sincere assistance to Vanuatu to help develop its economy and improve its people?s living standard since the two countries forged diplomatic ties. The support and assistance are selfless. Wen expressed appreciation for the adherence by the government of Vanuatu to the One China policy in the past years and expressed satisfaction with the smooth development of China-Vanuatu relations. China and Vanuatu have maintained frequent high-level exchange of visits and sound cooperation in the fields of economy and trade as well as regional affairs, despite their geographic remoteness. It serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples that they further develop the bilateral relations. China would like to work with Vanuatu to further consolidate and develop bilateral relations.

Wen put forward three proposals on the future development of bilateral relations. First, China and Vanuatu will increase high-level exchanges and dialogue between their governments, parliaments and parties. Second, Wen called for more efforts to expand the economic and trade relations between the two countries and their mutually beneficial cooperation. Third, the two sides will strengthen consultations and cooperation within regional organizations of the South Pacific and contribute to stability and development of the region.

Wen said that China attaches importance to its relations with the countries in the South Pacific region, supporting their efforts to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, to promote economic and regional cooperation, to establish a nuclear-free zone in the South Pacific region and to protect the region's resources and cooperation.

Natapei said that Vanuatu values its friendship with China. With more exchange of high-level visits, bilateral relations have seen new development in recent years. Relations with China have brought concrete benefits to the people of Vanuatu, and Vanuatu thanks China for its selfless assistance to Vanuatu?s economic and social development in the past years. The government of Vanuatu and the Vanuaaku Party will continue to adhere to the One China policy and continue to strengthen relations with China in various fields. Natapei also congratulated China on its successful control of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in a short period of time.

After the talks, the two sides singed four cooperation documents including one on economic and technical cooperation.