By Staff Writer
Samoa is among Pacific Is countries (PIC) to receive direct support from China in selected areas of development for the region.
An offer to provide 274 scholarships to the islands region in the 2025/2026 school year is one.
Also included is 500 human resource training opportunities within the current year.
The offer of support follows the 2-day Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers meeting last week in Xiamen.
A ‘broad consensus’ was reached after an ‘in-depth’ exchange on issues of interest to all.
Climate change and disaster response were among the leading concerns China signed up to give support in response to the meeting consensus.
A US$2m allocation for working in cooperation with PICs in climate change and setting up a way for co-operation in times of disaster were signed up as well.
Health support to involve sending over 7 groups of 56 medical personnel to PICs within this year comes in also.
More Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors will be available to carry out free medical treatment programs in PICs including the “Brightness Action” and “Urology Action” for cataract and urological patients within this year.
Cultural and Tourism support will include PICs professional invited to attend the 2025 China International Travel Mart.
Free exhibition booths will be provided in addition to training seminars for tourism professionals.
A “China in My Eyes” video competition for the PICs is lined up also within the year.
