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China and Pacific Island Countries Hold the Vice Ministers' Special Meeting on COVID-19

2020-05-13 16:59

On May 13, 2020, China and Pacific island countries having diplomatic relations with China held the vice ministers’ special meeting on COVID-19 via video link. The meeting gathered representatives from China and 10 Pacific island countries including Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati. Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang and Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Patrick Pruaitch co-chaired the meeting.

Zheng Zeguang briefed representatives of Pacific island countries on China’s epidemic prevention and control situation. He pointed out, under President Xi Jinping’s command and deployment, and the Chinese people have made great strategic achievements in COVID-19 containment through arduous efforts. At present, on the one hand, we are working tirelessly to step up epidemic prevention and control, and prevent imported infections and epidemic rebound at home; and on the other hand, we also speed up the orderly resumption of work and production, and restore normal order of production and life as quickly as possible. As comprehensive strategic partners of mutual respect and common development, China and Pacific island countries stand together and help each other in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese side will continue to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work with Pacific island countries to enhance epidemic prevention cooperation, share experience in fighting the disease and medical treatment plans, and provide Pacific island countries with assistance to the best of its ability. Zheng Zeguang also expressed China’s readiness to work with Pacific island countries to focus on the post COVID-19 era, actively expand practical cooperation in all areas under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and advance early economic stability and recovery, so as to deliver more benefit to the both peoples.

Patrick Pruaitch and other representatives commended the Chinese side for holding the special meeting and appreciated its assistance in their fighting against the virus. They noted they are looking forward to continuing cooperation with the Chinese side in epidemic prevention and control, support the World Health Organization in playing a leading role in international cooperation against the epidemic, and strongly oppose politicizing, stigmatizing and labeling the virus. They also expressed the readiness to continue to adhere to the One China principle, actively deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side in various fields, strengthen bilateral communication and coordination in international and regional organization, and firmly support multilateralism, in a bid to jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries.

The meeting issued a joint press release.

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