| Statement of China at the TPR of Fiji |
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| Wednesday,March 25,2009 Posted: 23:37 BJT(37 GMT) |
| From:wto Article type:Original |
25 March 2009
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, we would like to extend our warm welcome to the Fijian delegation led by Minister Sayed-Khaiyum and Ambassador Cavuilati and thank Minister Sayed-Khaiyum for his comprehensive introduction statement. We would also like to thank the discussant Ambassador Black for his guiding remarks. Needless to say, this time again, both the Secretariat Report and the Government Report of Fiji have laid down a solid foundation for the conduction of this review.
Mr. Chairman, China and Fiji are important trading partners. The two countries signed intergovernmental trade agreement in 1997. Fiji is China’s fourth largest trading partner in Pacific Islands, while China is Fiji’s seventh largest trading partner around the world. Through common efforts, economic and trade cooperation has expanded from trade simply to more fields including investment, tourism, telecommunication, infrastructure construction as well as farm, forestry and fishery. According to Chinese statistics, bilateral trade in 2008 amounted to over 90 million US dollars, representing an increase of 36% over 2007. As of the end of 2008, total real investment of Fiji in China was 5.43 million US dollars covering 28 projects. During the same period, Chinese enterprises invested 22 million US dollars in Fiji. The contract value on labor service, design and consulting service stood at 345 million US dollars, while the total turnover amounted to 234 million US dollars. China, based on its own capability as a developing country, has also provided aid and personnel training to Fiji.
China and Fiji also enjoy friendly relationship in other areas of bilateral exchanges. In April 2006, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to Fiji and attended the Opening Ceremony of the First Ministerial Conference of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum. During this visit, the two countries announced to establish and develop “China-Fiji important cooperative partnership”. Various kinds of cultural exchanges are frequent between China and Fiji. In October 2004, Fiji became an outbound tourism destination for Chinese citizens. Since 1984, China has also provided scholarships for Fijian students to study in China.
Mr. Chairman, as a small and vulnerable economy, Fiji is susceptible to external and unforeseeable turbulences, as we have learned from both reports and the opening remarks of Minister Sayed-Khaiyum. The unprecedented scale of the current global economic and financial crisis and the devastating flood in January only compound the challenges faced by Fiji. Under the current circumstances, it is important for countries like Fiji to have sustained access to foreign markets, investment and tailored aid for trade. This is a formidable task not only for the Fijian government, but also for the international community as a whole. In this regard, we take note that the Secretariat Report has pointed out that Fiji’s economic recovery is likely to be slow, and will also depend on international developments, notably the global recession following the recent financial crisis. However, WTO Members can help Fiji by further liberalizing their markets without discrimination, including alleviating unduly restrictive non-tariff barriers, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which impede Fijian exports. We share this analysis and encourage Members to follow the advice.
Finally, we thank the Fijian delegation for replying to our advance questions and wish them a successful trade policy review and a pleasant stay in Geneva. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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