10:30am (Fiji Standard Time) Friday
14 June 2019
Suva, Fiji - The Government of the People’s Republic of China today confirmed support of US $1.2million to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), for its annual funding contribution, under the China – Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Cooperation Fund.
The funding will support the operations and activities of the Pacific Trade and Invest (PTI) China office in Beijing.
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, thanked China for its annual funding support to further Forum Leaders’ priorities for the Blue Pacific region. “I would particularly like to thank China for the ongoing support to the PTI China office in Beijing. As the top trading partner for Pacific Island countries, the trade relationships we have with China are very important and the work of this office continues to strengthen trade, investment links and market access.”
She added the funds will also support the development and initial start-up of the Pacific Resilience Facility which is a key initiative of the Forum Leaders and their Economic Ministers.
The Facility is a regional fund to assist governments, businesses and communities in the Pacific region to support the financing of resilient infrastructure investment - to reduce the risks impacts of climate change and disasters. China has been a Forum Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum since 1990. [ENDS]
Media contact: Catrina Rowe catrinar@forumsec.org M: (+679) 9986455 Communications & Public Affairs Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
