After 40 years of forming diplomatic relations, Fiji and China will continue to expand economic ties and strengthen cultural and educational exchanges.
This is according to the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama while speaking at the Chinese New Year celebrations at Yat Sen secondary school today.
Bainimarama said Fiji will never forget the support that China gave after 2006 when some of our traditional friends turned their backs.
He said China stayed by our side because it recognized that what the government was doing was for the long-term benefit of the Fijian people.
The Prime Minister said the Chinese New Year of the Goat is special as it signifies the historic visit which President Xi Jinping made to Fiji last year and the 40th anniversary of establishing of diplomatic ties between Fiji and China.
He said China has greatly contributed to the development and improvement of our infrastructure, including roads, public housing, hydroelectric and solar projects and hospitals.
Bainimarama said the annual volume of trade between China and Fiji has reached $695 million Fijian dollars, and is growing on current figures by 12 per cent a year.
He said the Chinese community has played an important role in our nation’s development.
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