Fijian Consul General in Shanghai Ready for Forthcoming China International Import Expo
China International Import Expo (CIIE), which will take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10, is regarded as a significant move to further open up the Chinese market to the world.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up policy, which has brought about huge changes to the country as well as the world.
It is also the fifth year since China proposed the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative.
Global Times reporter Qi Xijia recently had an exclusive interview with Yolinda Chan, Fijian Consul General in Shanghai, who shared her opinions about China’s reform and opening-up policy, the B&R initiative and the upcoming CIIE.
GT: Great changes have taken place since China’s reform and opening-up in 1978. Please use three words to describe your understanding of China’s reform and opening-up. What do you think are the most obvious and impressive changes that China has made in the past 40 years?
How did this policy influence Fiji as well as its relationship between China?
Chan: I think China has achieved quite a lot within 40 years of opening up.
Three words would be very difficult to describe these achievements.
If I had to, I think the first would be “vision.”
The Chinese government really had a vision back 40 years ago to see its potential, and its people waking up and gaining its place again in the global stage. Secondly, I think the word “integration” would be important.
China has come out and integrated into the global economy and been a global player. The third word would be “development.”
As a result of this opening up policy, development has been achieved within China and the world as a whole. For me the deepest impression is the Chinese government’s ability to lift 700 million people out of poverty. China now is the world’s second biggest economy and is moving from a mainly agriculture-based economy to manufacturing-based, featuring high-tech, science and technology. I think this natural progress is amazing. Engaging a big country like China opens up a very big market for Fijian products.
It helps us grow economically.
It also opens up more frequent people-to-people exchange between the two nations, both at the official level and in the business community.
We have, for instance, more Fijian students studying in China now and more senior officers travelling to China for official visits.
GT: The B&R initiative turns five years old this year. Are there any big changes brought about by the initiative in your consulate’s jurisdiction in China?
What has the initiative brought to Fiji? What else related to this initiative do you expect to see in the future?
Chan:
Fiji is part of the Belt and Road initiative with the extension of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. Over the past five years we have seen more engagement within the business community in the consulate’s jurisdiction.
For instance, last year Fiji was one of the first to accept an invitation from the municipal government of Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, to set up a Fiji exhibition hall.
We had a huge room decorated in the Fijian style to display Fijian goods and showcase our tourism and investment policies.
The initiative enables us to let China and Chinese people know more about our country.
A lot of Chinese may have heard about Fiji, but now they know it’s a very good tourist destination.
The B&R initiative also contributed to the infrastructure development of Fiji. For example, China Railway Group is conducting a number of projects in Fiji.
It also boosts people-to-people exchange in training and culture. At the moment the B&R initiative is more at an official level. We want this good initiative to trickle down to the business community and grass roots, so people in villages also know it’s not just something that government and senior officers do, but something that really benefits everybody in the country.
GT: CIIE is going to be held in Shanghai this November. What kind of products would your country like to introduce to the Chinese market through this event, and why?
Chan:
I think CIIE is the first expo in the world that focuses on imports.
Fiji is actively participating in this expo. We have a national booth located in the Pacific Pavilion. We will showcase a few of our well-known products, especially those already entered into the Chinese market and tourism related services. Fijian products are very nice.
If you haven’t tried Fijian water, one of the best in the world, please pick up a bottle when you see it on shop shelves. Also, Fijian beer is something new and has a unique taste from the Pacific.
Since 2017, we have had three different brands of Fijian beer enter the Chinese market.
We also have Pure Fiji, a range of well-known Fijian organic based cosmetic products.
Please come to CIIE and have a look. You will have fun and be exposed to what Fiji has to offer in terms of premium products and services.
You will also have our tourism marketing and promotional officers there to tell you about Fiji.
We wish CIIE a huge success.