Published: 15:32, August 9, 2024 | Updated: 17:25, August 9, 2024
Fiji prime minister to begin 10-day China visit
By Zhao Jia
In this file photo dated Jan 22, 2023. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka speaks at a Chinese Spring Festival celebration organized by the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, the China Cultural Center in Fiji and local Chinese community in Suva, Fiji. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will pay a 10-day official visit to China starting from Monday, the first of its kind since taking the office in 2022.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges of views on major issues of common concern, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

China has received several leaders of Pacific Island countries this year and Prime Minister Rabuka is yet another Pacific Island country leader set to visit the country, which Mao said speaks to the close relations between China and the South Pacific region.

Fiji is the first Pacific Island country to have established diplomatic ties with China.

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China hopes to take the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level and work with Fiji to build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island countries, Mao said.