Visiting Premier Wen Jiabao said in Nadi Tuesday that the Chinese side encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in and run operations in Fiji.

 

Wen made the remarks in his meeting with Fiji President Josefa Iloilo.

 

Fiji boasts rich agricultural, forestry and fishing resources while China has a vast market and technical know-how suitable to application in Fiji so the two sides could enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

 

He said that Fiji has been an important partner of China in the South Pacific Ocean. As the first Pacific island country who forged diplomatic ties with China, bilateral ties witnessed steady growth with active achieved in various areas.

 

China has advocated that all countries, big or small, should respect the others and treat other equally for harmonious co-existence and common development, he said. "China will continue to carry out cooperation with Fiji in line with the principle," he said.

 

Iloilo highly commended the role of overseas Chinese in Fiji's development. Also, China has offered assistance for Fiji for years, for which the Fiji people gained due benefits, he said.

 

Wen was here on an official visit as guest of his Fiji counterpart Laisenia Qarase. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the first ministerial meeting of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum, due to be held Wednesday, and make a keynote speech. Iloilo said Fiji will cooperate with China closely for the success of the forum.

 

Fiji is the second-leg of Wen's four-nation tour following Australia. After Fiji, Wen will also visit New Zealand and Cambodia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2006)