Wang Yi Seals Samoa Deal As Pacific Visit Continues

Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday signed a cooperation deal between China and the government of Samoa on Saturday as he continued his diplomatic tour of Pacific nations.

Samoan authorities said the pact covered economic and technical cooperation in areas such as "health, education and public administration sectors, human resource development, sports development and technical cooperation in the agriculture sector".

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa welcomed Wang and his delegation for talks on matters including climate change, the pandemic and security.

"Samoa and the People’s Republic of China will continue to pursue greater collaboration that will deliver on joint interests and commitments," the Samoan authorities said.

Wang, who has already been to Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, departed for Fiji later on Saturday. Media reports say he's expected to travel to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

Wang's tour comes at the same time as visits to several Pacific states by the new Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.Australia's new centre-left government has made the Pacific Islands an early diplomatic priority. (RTHK, Reuters, AFP)