CHINESE IMPORT EXPO TO BENEFIT FIJI

The China International Import Expo this year would be seen as a good opportunity for Fijian businesses to enter the 1.3 billion population Chinese market. Speaking at the Nadi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Forum at the Nalagi Hotel in Nadi yesterday, Li Zhi the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Chinese Embassy said it came at a time when China was opening its market to the world.

“The first CIIE will be held in Shanghai in November, attracting tens of thousands of professional buyers from around 100 countries and regions,” she said. “Let’s further strengthen the economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to benefit more people both in China and Fiji.”

Ms Zhi said she was pleased to learn that the China of Commerce in Fiji, which is made up of Chinese companies, has signed an MOU with Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She said 2017 marked a fruitful year for the bilateral economic and trade cooperation between and Fiji and this followed Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Mr Banimarama’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, injected new impetus to the strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development between China and Fiji. Ms Zhi indicated that:

■By 2020, China endeavored to build a moderately prosperous society

■By 2035, China will basically build into a modernised country

■By 2049, China will fully achieve modernisation

■China’s Gross Domestic Products rose by 6.9 per cent reaching 80 trillion yuan

■Import and export of China reached 27.8 trillion yuan with an increase of 14.2 per cent.

Ms Zhi said: “We are willing to work with the Fijian side to implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries, respect and support each other, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen pragmatic cooperation and push China-Fiji strategic partnership to a new level.”