China could help Fiji develop its ports and shipyards, that Pacific archipelago’s prime minister said on Wednesday, raising the prospect of closer ties with Beijing in this key area of its economy.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, wary of China’s growing security presence in the Pacific, welcomed Beijing’s support so far to Fiji in the fight against Covid-19, in developing its agriculture and renewing its infrastructure.
Modernizing Fiji’s port facilities and shipyards is a “key objective” for sustainable economic development, Mr Rabuka told Parliament in Suva after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.
“I expect possible cooperation with China in this endeavor,” the Fijian leader added, highlighting the Asian giant’s “globally competitive shipbuilding capacity.”
Asked for comment on Mr. Rabuka’s comments, Beijing described the two states as “good friends and partners.”
“The two countries have established concrete cooperation in various areas, including infrastructure, to boost the economic and social development of Fiji,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.
Beijing “is committed to helping these nations revitalize their livelihoods and improve their development,” she added.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mr Xi promised to help Fiji protect “its security and sovereignty” and cooperate on infrastructure when he met Mr Rabuka on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco last week.
Asked about China’s security role in the South Pacific during a visit to Australia last month, Mr Rabuka said he preferred to negotiate with democratic “traditional friends”.
Mr Rabuka had also advocated the creation of a “peace zone” in the region.
Western powers were particularly alarmed in 2022 after the signing of a comprehensive security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, the details of which were not disclosed. China and the Solomon Islands have denied that the pact would lead to the establishment of a Chinese military base.
In September 2022, against the backdrop of rivalry with China in this strategic region, the United States announced a new $810 million fund to assist the South Pacific islands and strengthen its diplomatic presence there.