"China will never do that": Ambassador

The People's Republic of China has no military intentions in the Pacific, says China's Ambassador to Samoa Chao Xiaoliang.

From May 26 to June 4 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit eight Pacific Island Countries which are the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.

Last week, the Government of Samoa hosted a Bilateral Meeting with China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The bilateral meeting had also included the signing of the Economic and Technical Agreement, Handover certificate of the Arts & Culture Center and Samoa-China Friendship Park, and the Exchange of Letter for the Fingerprint laboratory.

The meeting on Saturday covered issues of mutual interest and concern including key regional priorities such as climate change, the pandemic and peace and security.

The Solomon Islands had recently signed a secuirty pact with China, and it brought fears in the region that the deal will be a way for China's military to enter the region.

In an interview with Eyespy Radio on Friday morning, Ambassador Xiaoliang said that countries such as the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa are a sovereign country, and have the right to build a relationship with any country.

"China's relationship with Pacific island countries, our bilateral relations are very open," Ambassador Xiaoliang told Eyespy Radio.

"China of course we never have a military base in other countries. We also have no intention to build a military base in the Pacific island countries."

He said that China is not like other countries have military bases in other countries.

"China will never do that," he said.

"The relationship with Pacific island countries the aim is common development, not a military competition," he said.

According to "Fact Sheet: Cooperation Between China and Pacific Island Countries" issued by China's Foreign Ministry, China has dispatched 600 medical staff to the region, implemented more than 100 aid projects, and has provided the region with 600,000 doses of vaccines and more than 100 tons of anti-epidemic supplies.