On April 28, 2022, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was officially unveiled in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province. Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng attended the unveiling ceremony via video link and delivered a speech. Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee Li Ganjie, Governor of Shandong Province Zhou Naixiang, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Qiu Qiwen, Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Development of Kiribati Willie Tokataake, Minister of Natural Resources of Niue Mona Ainu'u, and diplomatic envoys to China and representatives of Samoa, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands were present at the ceremony.

Xie Feng said in the speech, last September, President Xi Jinping said in his phone conversation with leaders of Pacific Island countries (PICs) that China was considering setting up a China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center to support PICs in enhancing their capacity to cope with climate change. At the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting last October, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the launch of the center. It is a concrete measure taken by China to expand practical cooperation with PICs and a concrete action to enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. By locating the center in Shandong, China aims to give full play to Shandong's unique advantages and work with PICs to set a new exemplary model for the South-South cooperation on climate change, make greater contributions to enhancing PICs' capacity to cope with climate change, and build a closer China-PICs community with a shared future.

Xie Feng said that climate change is a common challenge facing humanity. As a promoter of ecological conservation and a doer in climate governance, China has taken the initiative to shoulder international responsibilities commensurate with its national conditions and stepped up its actions in tackling climate change. On the basis of delivering on its 2020 climate action target ahead of schedule, China has announced that it will strive to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, reinforce the effort to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions and roll out a series of policies and measures. This is an intrinsic requirement for China to implement its new development philosophy and also the responsibility for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xie Feng said, China understands the special challenges PICs face in addressing climate change. As a good friend, partner and brother of PICs, China has provided PICs with assistance within its capacity under the framework of South-South cooperation and made positive contributions to enhancing the capacity and resilience of PICs to cope with climate change. Last September, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, calling for the world to actively respond to climate change and build a community of life for man and nature. China advocates and establishes the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center, which is to carry out demonstration project cooperation with PICs, share the experience in and practice of green and low-carbon development, work together to respond to the challenge of climate change, and help PICs achieve sustainable development. China is ready to work with PICs, upholding the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, to keep improving the cooperation center and ensure that it will grow bigger and stronger and deliver results.