Samoa and member island countries of the forum will do well to follow China’s economic leadership to benefit from current and future trends.
This was the gist of the address by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Samoa at the opening of the China Pacific Forum hosted in Apia at the start of the week on Sunday and Monday.
The Samoan leader looked at China as “an important ally for the Pacific region’ and highlighted the world’s second largest economy as a platform that will benefit the developments in the different sectors.
“We see China as the world’s second largest economy that can be an important ally for the Pacific region in the UNFCCC process by taking a lead in escalating its ambition level and its commitments under the Paris Agreement. This will be an important area for collaboration and
genuine partnerships between China and the Pacific region.”
“The forum is timely as we witness the continuing economic growth in China and Asia as a whole. We know that we can benefit from economic integration. It is therefore important that we as Pacific islands developing states must take note of the current and future trends in
China as we navigate our small and vulnerable economies in the years ahead.”
Tuilaepa said that bilateral trade between China and the Pacific have improved in the recent years as of last year, it reached USD$8.6billion, which is 5% increase from previous years.
“While we welcome the gradual increase in bilateral trade, we should also note that exports from China to the Pacific Island countries doubled that of exports from the Pacific Islands to China. It is important therefore for both sides to address and implement the goals in the Economic Development Plan of Action which we will endorse at the conclusion of this forum to boost cooperation in Investment, Infrastructure, Tourism, Transportation, and Agriculture.” Tuilaepa
continued.
Tuilaepa also stated that Samoa is trying to negotiate a free agreement trade partnership for more opportunities to benefit both countries.
“Samoa has requested the government of China for feasibility study for a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement to facilitate our trade arrangements and assist our exporters with rising costs.
“The remoteness of the Pacific islands also makes air and sea transportation an important component of the Plan of Action as it is critical to our connectivity in trade and tourism outflow from China to the Pacific.”
“We welcome and appreciate Samoa’s cooperation with Guangdong Province
and the projects, which Huizhou city in Guangdong is implementing in Samoa such as the China Friendship Park and the Arts and Culture Center. These projects contribute to enhancing people to people links, friendship and understanding between our two peoples.”