COFA Delegation Visits Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand

A China-Oceania Friendship Association (COFA) delegation led by its president Liao Hui， Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference (CPPCC)， and CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin (Tonga only)， visited Tonga， Fiji， Samoa and New Zealand from August 26 to September 7， 2011.

The visit was made at the invitation of the Tonga-China Friendship Association， the Fijian Ministry for Social Welfare， Women and Poverty Alleviation， the Samoan Ministry of Education， Sports and Culture， and the New Zealand-China Friendship Society.

The great courtesy the delegation received in the four countries has fully reflected the great importance they attached to its visit and their friendly feelings for China.

In Tonga， Vice Chairman Liao Hui and CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin met Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano， officiated at the signing ceremony of a friendly cooperation agreement and visited the construction site of a commercial center that is a China-aid project. In the other three countries， Vice Chairman Liao respectively met with Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama， Minister for Social Welfare， Women and Poverty Alleviation Jiko Luveni， and Foreign Minister Inoke Kubuabola; Samoa’s Head of State Tufuga Efi， Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi， Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Laauli Leuatea Polataivao， and Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Faumuina Liuga; and Auckland Mayor Len Brown， exploring with them the possibilities of carrying out exchanges and cooperation in economic， trade， cultural， investment， tourism and other areas from a non-governmental angle.

The delegation had extensive contacts with people of various circles and held working meetings with the TCFA and the NZCFS on future cooperation. In Fiji and Samoa， it also discussed with people concerned about the friendship-with-China organizations they planned to set up.

At meetings with friendship organizations and personages， Liao Hui emphasized: “China has been making great efforts to strengthen cooperation in all fields with the Pacific island countries.” As COFA President， he would work to promote the exchanges and cooperation with the South Pacific countries and contribute his bit to people-to-people friendship.

“China has a large population with a weak economic base. It is not easy， but， in recent years， it has made some progress in its economic and social development. However， such developments are not balanced and the country still faces many problems. China will unswervingly stick to the road of peaceful development and enhance cooperation with the South Pacific countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit”.