FSM, PNG, Samoa now on China’s ADS list

Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia have been included on the list of Approved Destination Status countries by the Chinese government—making these countries competitive with the CNMI in terms of attracting more Chinese tourists.

This was learned during the China-Pacific Islands Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum that was held from April 5-6 2006, in Fiji.

According to the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, Premier Wen Jiabao of the People’s Republic of China announced during the Forum the inclusion of PNG, Samoa and FSM on the Approved Destination Status list—a move that is expected to greatly improve the tourism development for these countries.

The CNMI itself received its Approved Destination status in December 2004, resulting in an exponential increase in the number of Chinese tourists to the islands. Since October 2005 until February 2006, the CNMI has received a total of 17,116 Chinese tourists. This is an 8-percent increase over the same period in the last fiscal year.

The China-Pacific Island countries meeting also provided the FSM with over $ 2.5 million in grant assistance.

Wen met with FSM President Joseph J. Urusemal and six other leaders from the Pacific island countries during the two-day forum and provided the participating Pacific islands countries with over $300 million in development assistance.

Urusemal held bilateral talks with Wen during which the two witnessed the signing ceremony of two assistance grants.

The first grant—$75,000—will be used for the dispatch of a study team from China to begin initial assessment for the construction of the Pohnpei State Administration building.

The other assistance—$2.5 million—will be used for projects to be agreed upon between the two governments. Signing on behalf of the their respective governments were Lorin S. Robert, FSM Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Bo Xilai, Chinese Minister of Commerce.

In the presence of the state leaders of the PICs and China, PIC ministers signed the China-PIC Economic Development and Cooperation Guiding Framework which provides direction and general principles of cooperation between China and PICs in several areas of economic development. Akillino Susaia, FSM Secretary of Economic Affairs signed the Framework on behalf of the FSM.

Following the opening ceremonies, PIC ministers delivered their country statements along with Australia and New Zealand. Deputy Secretary Lorin Robert and Secretary Akillino Susaia delivered the FSM statements on Economic Development ties with China, and FSM Fisheries Development. Other ministers from Pacific island countries spoke on similar economic and cooperation issues, such as tourism and transportation, trade and investment, forestry and agriculture.

In addition to meetings with Chinese government delegation members, the FSM delegation held informal and courtesy meetings with representatives of public corporations and the private sector such as the China National Fisheries Corporation, China Civil Aviation Bureau, and the Export-Import Bank. The Chinese delegations had expressed interest in exploring areas of cooperation in the FSM.

Accompanying Urusemal to the inaugural China-PIC meeting were Secretary Akillino Susaia, Deputy Secretary Lorin Robert, Ambassador Kodaro Gallen and Deputy Assistant Secretary Perry Pedrus. They returned to Pohnpei on Monday.