Xi says China to cooperate with Micronesia on infrastructure, climate change

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Micronesia should enhance cooperation on infrastructure, expressing China's willingness to provide assistance to the island country in tackling climate change.

Xi's remarks came during his talks with President of the Federated States of Micronesia Wesley W. Simina, who is on a state visit to China from April 5 to 12.

China supports Micronesia in safeguarding national sovereignty and independence, taking a development path suited to its national conditions, revitalizing its economy and improving people's livelihood, Xi said.

Noting that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Micronesia, Xi said China is willing to advance the relations between the two countries.

He called on both sides to accelerate cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, increase partnerships on infrastructure, and strengthen exchanges in culture, health, education and sub-national regions. He welcomed more young people from Micronesia to study in China.

Xi said China is willing to provide climate change assistance to Micronesia within the framework of South-South cooperation and strengthen coordination and cooperation with the island country within the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum to jointly practice multilateralism.

Xi said that China's relationship with island countries is based on mutual assistance within the framework of South-South cooperation, and it is neither targeted at any third party nor should it be interfered with by any third party.

China maintains that any country seeking to develop relations with Pacific island countries should honor their independent choices, put development first, and adhere to openness and inclusiveness, Xi said.

Island countries have the right to choose a development path suited to their national conditions and to carry out friendly cooperation with all development partners, he added.

"China is ready to continue to provide support to the development of island countries to the best of its ability and carry out trilateral or multilateral cooperation," Xi said.

Simina said Micronesia acknowledges that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang.

The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by President Xi, are of great significance to helping developing countries achieve common development and promoting world peace, stability and prosperity, Simina said.

Simina thanked China for its valuable assistance to Micronesia and other Pacific island countries for their economic and social development over the years, and expressed his willingness to deepen cooperation in agriculture, fishery, economy and trade, investment, tourism and digital economy under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and jointly address climate change.

China's cooperation with the Pacific island countries is conducive to regional peace and development, and Micronesia will continue to promote such cooperation, Simina said.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative, green development, agriculture, health care, infrastructure, development cooperation and other fields.