Seruiratu: China remains a key development partner

DEFENCE Minister Inia Seruiratu says while Fiji recently met representatives from different countries, China remains a key development partner.

Speaking at one of Asia’s premier security summits, the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, he said the region knew that China was a key development partner.

“Everybody knows that we met the Americans, we met the Japanese, we met the Chinese, we met the Australians, you name it,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“China is a key development partner and that is a known fact and that is accepted as well in the region — China is a key development partner.”

He said China had bilateral relations with all Pacific countries and was seeking to strengthen the same.

“At the same time, China has come up with a concept about the region that has been raised in here and then there has not been any consensus on some of the issues.

“But again, we respect that we all have the sovereign rights to make our own decisions.

“But at the same time, we also see benefit from all these relationships that we have, including China.”

Mr Seruiratu told the summit that Fiji had a defence cooperation with China on capacity development.

“We have our senior military officers and technicians in the US, in Australia, in India, and of course in China.

“Capacity development, that’s something that we seriously need so that we can address most of the issues that we have.

“And just on technology and other things that we need in terms of our capability development.

The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was held from June 10-12, 2022.

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