DPM Natuman thanks China for numerous support

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce says it has always supported the deepening of bilateral commercial technical cooperation and pragmatic cooperation between China and Vanuatu

on a variety of areas and that last week’s visit by a joint Vanuatu Government/Parliament delegation will bring the bilateral commercial relationship to a higher level.

Speaking at a meeting in Beijing last Friday with the visiting Vanuatu delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, covering a wide range of topics including agriculture, fisheries and tourism, the delegation of senior officials representing the Chinese Ministry of Commerce mentioned that a week earlier “the Government of Vanuatu confirmed its continuous support for the Chinese candidate to the WTO’s appellate body and China would like to express our appreciation for that”.

“Since our two countries established diplomatic relationship in 1982, our bilateral relationship has been sailing smoothly and a bilateral commercial relationship has witnessed fruitful results.

“In order to support Vanuatu’s export to China and boost our two way trade, China accorded zero tariff treatment to 95 percent of Vanuatu’s trade to China starting from July the 1st 2013, and China again extended the coverage to 97 percent on January 2015.

“Generally speaking our two countries’ economic and technological cooperation have been going very smoothly.”

China has helped Vanuatu in its construction of schools, highways (roads), conference halls and hospitals and the two countries have also cooperated in agriculture and medical technology.

China has also trained talents in management and technology for Vanuatu.

In March 2015, Vanuatu was struck by category 5 cyclone Pam and China immediately provided materials worth 30 million RMB (Vt485m) to Vanuatu for disaster relief.

After the disaster China dispatched a team to Vanuatu to evaluate the disaster relief and learn about Vanuatu’s ideas for reconstruction and the orders of priority of the reconstruction projects.

“And China plans to assist with the reconstruction work based on a feasibility study at an early date,” the Ministry spokesman said.

DPM Joe Natuman responded that the Government and people of Vanuatu were so thankful for China’s numerous assistance provided to Vanuatu through grant aid and soft loan arrangements.

“In the area of grant assistance, we’ve just had the pleasure of seeing the completion of the national convention centre in Port Vila, upgrade of the Prime Minister’s office complex is continuing, work has started on the national sports complex in Port Vila and the construction of the extension and upgrade of one of our national institutions, Malapoa College,” Natuman said.

“In the area of soft loan for which we are grateful for particularly your Ministry for allowing us to get the loan from Exim Bank and the work is proceeding very well on the Tanna and Malekula roads and the Luganville wharf which is expected to be completed by July of next year,” the Vanuatu Deputy PM reported.

“Phase One of the two road projects is proceeding and both the prime minister and myself and the minister of infrastructure and public utilities support the second phase and we hope that your government will consider this and the work can proceed as soon as possible.

“We wish to thank your government for providing zero tariffs for 97 percent of our products into China. Thank you for your assistance to help with cyclone relief.

“I met your feasibility study team after the cyclone and we provided them with our interim report and we hope that your government can decide what kind of assistance you can provide us in terms of reconstruction.”

The China Ministry of Commerce team responded that China is willing to give proactive aspiration to the second phases of the road projects on Malekula and Tanna islands.

“At the moment the Chin Exim Bank is already starting the preliminary preparation for this project and I hope Vanuatu could provide necessary materials and documents to China Exim Bank for their internal evaluation.”

Natuman thanked the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for their response especially on the second phase “because three MPs in this group – myself, Johnny Koanapo and Tom Noam on the visit are from Tanna and people expected the road to be completed and we are will work together with Exim Bank and provide the necessary documents to Exim Bank.”

The ministry spokesperson added that: “China is willing to give proactive aspiration to the second phases of the road projects on Malekula and Tanna islands. At the moment the Chin Exim Bank is already starting the preliminary preparation for this project and I hope Vanuatu could provide necessary materials and documents to China Exim Bank for their internal evaluation.”

The 13-member delegation headed by Mr. Joe Natuman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Commerce, Trades, and ni-Vanuatu Business returned home last Saturday night.

Other members of the delegation were: Johnny Koanapo, a Member of Parliament (MP) and Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office; Mr. Kenneth Natapei, MP, Chairman of Social Policy Committee; Mr. Gillion William, MP and Chairman of Standing Orders Review Committee; Mr. Kalo Seule, MP and Vice Chairman of Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Special Envoy on Climate Change issues; Mr. Ian Wilson, MP and Chairman of Privileges Committee; Mr. Jerry Kanas, MP and Member of Committee on Economic Policies; Mr. Jacob Mata, MP and Chairman of Committee on Institutions; Mr. Francois Chani, MP and member of Privileges Committee and Member of Committee on Economic Policy; Mr. Silas Bule Melve; MP, Parliamentary Secretary to Education Ministry and Member of Committee on Ethics and Integrity; Mr. Rick Mahe, MP and Member of Committee on Members Ethics and Integrity; Mr. Tom Noam, MP and Member of Committee on Institutions; and Mr. Tomker Netvunei, MP and Member of Committee on Institutions.