Together for a Shared Future After Forty Extraordinary Year
风雨同舟四十载，砥砺前行创未来
Ambassador Zhou Haicheng and Vanuatu Foreign Minister Marc Ati Published an Article on Vanuatu Daily Post
驻瓦努阿图大使周海成与瓦努阿图外长阿蒂在《每日邮报》发表联名文章
2022年3月22日
22 March 2022
On 26 March 1982, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Vanuatu officially established diplomatic relations, opening a new era of bilateral relations for the newly independent Vanuatu and the PRC as a growing powerhouse for the world. Guided by a common vision and aspiration for common and resilient development that leaves no one behind, China-Vanuatu relations have matured through trials and hardships over the past 40 years, and is a model for relations between China and Pacific Island Countries (PIC’s).
1982年3月26日，中华人民共和国和瓦努阿图共和国正式建立外交关系，开辟了两国关系发展的新纪元。40年来，在两国领导人把舵引航和人民共同培育下，中瓦关系历风雨而日臻成熟，经挑战而历久弥坚，成为了中国同太平洋岛国关系的典范。
Over the past 40 years, China and Vanuatu worked tirelessly and continuously to deepen political mutual trust, and enhance mutual development cooperation. This denotes respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the independent choosing of development pathways suited to respective national conditions, mutual understanding and support on issues involving each other’s core interests and concerns. Vanuatu firmly abides by the One-China Policy as an important pillar of its foreign policy and the cornerstone of China-Vanuatu relations. In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with PIC Leaders, where all agreed to elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, opening a new chapter in China-Vanuatu all-round cooperation.
40年来，中瓦政治互信不断增强。双方始终尊重彼此国家独立、主权和领土完整，支持各自国家人民自主选择符合本国国情的发展道路，在涉及各自核心利益和重大关切问题上相互理解和支持。瓦方坚定奉行一个中国原则，并将其作为本国外交政策基石。2018年，习近平主席同太平洋岛国领导人集体会晤，一致同意将双方关系提升为相互尊重、共同发展的全面战略伙伴关系，开启了中瓦全方位合作新时代。
In 2019, China and Vanuatu signed a Cooperation Plan within the Framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as the blueprint for wider and deeper practical cooperation in areas of common interest. In 2021, foreign ministers of China and PIC’s jointly agreed on a mechanism of regular meetings, creating a pathway to closer collaboration and communication on policies. To date, seven (7) political parties in Vanuatu have established contact with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Ni-Vanuatu party leaders actively participated in the CPC and World Political Parties Summit and the PIC’s-China Political Leadership Dialogue, where together we discussed ways to strengthen party-to-party cooperation, and in working to enhance our people’s livelihoods. Party-to-party exchanges have already become a key driving force and distinctive feature of China-Vanuatu relations.
2019年，两国签署共建“一带一路”合作规划，为中瓦各领域务实合作擘画了蓝图。2021年，中国—太平洋岛国外长定期会晤机制建立，开拓了双方深化政策沟通的新渠道。同时，瓦7个政党已与中国共产党建立党际关系。瓦政党领导人积极参加中国共产党与世界政党领导人峰会、中国—太平洋岛国政党对话会等，共商加强政党合作，增进人民福祉。政党交往已成为中瓦关系发展的重要动力和显著特征。
Over the past 40 years, China and Vanuatu have continuously expanded practical cooperation. In recent years, the two countries have signed more than 10 cooperation documents in fishery, maritime affairs, technology, civil aviation transport, infrastructure, and police exchanges and cooperation, making every effort to promote practical exchanges and cooperation across the board. China has always spared no effort in providing assistance to Vanuatu with no strings attached. The assistance has effectively boosted Vanuatu’s national development, well improved people’s livelihood, and widely won praise from all walks of life in Vanuatu. The Parliament Building, the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Convention Center, and the Korman Stadium become milestones that witness China-Vanuatu friendship. Hailed as “The Roads of Hope” by Ni-Vanuatu, the Tanna Road and Malekula Road connect communities and villages, and promote Vanuatu’s agriculture and tourism development.
40年来，中瓦务实合作不断拓展。双方近年来在渔业、海洋事务、经济技术、民航运输、基础设施建设、警务交流合作等领域签署10余项合作文件，全力推进各领域务实交流合作。中方始终坚持尽己所能向瓦方提供不附加任何政治条件的援助，有力促进了瓦国家发展和民生改善，获得瓦各界赞誉。议会大厦、总理府大楼、国家会议中心、科尔曼体育场等拔地而起，成为见证中瓦友谊的里程碑。塔纳岛公路、马勒库拉岛公路等连接起社区、村庄，促进了瓦农业、旅游业发展，被瓦人民誉为“希望之路”。
The operation of the fish processing plant (Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd.), a joint venture between the Vanuatu Government and a Chinese company, opened a new chapter in the development of Vanuatu’s fishing industry and enabled Vanuatu to export tuna, as well as support domestic demand in Vanuatu. To further promote Vanuatu’s export of niche products to China and enrich economic cooperation, China invited the Vanuatu Government and Vanuatu enterprises to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for four consecutive years, and extended the zero-tariff treatment for 98% of Vanuatu’s tax products. Amidst the ravages of COVID-19, China and Vanuatu stood shoulder to shoulder, and helped each other out in the true spirit of friendship and solidarity. China quickly responded to Vanuatu’s request and provided batches of medical supplies, including 100,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, giving firm support to Vanuatu’s pandemic response. This cooperation also extended to support for nationals within respective borders during extended periods of lockdown, and respect for national COVID protocols, especially by Vanuatu students in China and Chinese nationals involved in development projects across Vanuatu.
以合资方式建设的中瓦渔业加工厂运营投产，改写了瓦渔业发展历史，使瓦金枪鱼出口成为现实。中国还连续邀请瓦政府、企业参加中国进博会、北京世园会等，并给予瓦98%税目的输华商品免关税待遇，不断推动瓦特色产品进入中国市场，丰富中瓦经贸合作内容。新冠疫情暴发以来，两国更是同舟共济，守望相助。中国迅速向瓦提供多批抗疫物资和两批共10万剂疫苗援助，有力支持瓦疫情防控。
Over the past 40 years, China and Vanuatu have continuously deepened people-to-people exchanges. Deemed as “the beacon of hope” in Vanuatu, and seen as the key to poverty alleviation in China, education is a high priority to both countries. China offers around 20 government scholarships and hundreds of training opportunities to Vanuatu every year, in an effort to support Vanuatu’s human resources development and alleviate intergenerational poverty. Many Ni-Vanuatu graduates from China have become the backbone of Vanuatu’s development. Farmers with modern agricultural technology and young entrepreneurs have grown up through bilateral training programs. Meanwhile, the number of Ni-Vanuatu students taking an interest in learning Chinese and studying in China continues to rise, and the Chinese Government Scholarship has gained wider recognition. Since the 1980’s, the Chinese government has sent over 200 Chinese doctors to Vanuatu, providing Medicare service in two resident medical teams. China also sent Peace Ark (Chinese Navy hospital ship) and medical teams from different provinces and cities to provide free medical service to Ni-Vanuatu. These developments have not only enhanced people-to-people exchanges between our two peoples, but have also added to the strengthening of key social sectors, in Vanuatu’s health and education sectors.
40年来，中瓦人文交流不断深化。双方均高度重视教育发展，瓦方视其为“希望灯塔”，中国坚持扶贫必扶智。多年来，中国每年向瓦提供约20个赴华留学政府奖学金名额、为瓦方培训数百名各类人才，并持续推进合作开展瓦中小学中文教育项目，持之以恒帮助瓦发展教育事业，助力瓦阻断贫困代际传递。不少留学生回瓦后成为推动瓦发展的栋梁之才，一批农业现代化人才和青年创业骨干成长起来，瓦年轻人学习中文和赴华留学热情日趋高涨，中国政府奖学金获得瓦社会高度认可。同时，自上世纪80年代起，中国政府派驻两支医疗队累计共200多名医生在瓦开展医疗卫生技术服务，还两次派遣“和平方舟”医疗船和多批省市医疗队为瓦民众提供免费医疗服务，大大促进了瓦卫生事业发展。
The past 40 years of our relations show that the path jointly chosen by China and Vanuatu to develop bilateral relations is right. For four decades, we have always been good friends who treat each other with sincerity and mutual respect, good partners who work together for development and mutual benefits, and good brothers who understand and learn from each other. All these not only ensure healthy and stable development of China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership, but also vividly interprets the true meaning of “a community with a shared future for mankind”.
40年的关系发展告诉我们，中瓦共同选择的发展双边关系的道路是正确的。两国始终以诚相知、以礼相待、以心相交，坚持相互尊重、平等互信的政治关系，坚持共谋发展、合作共赢的发展理念，坚持相知相亲、互学互鉴的包容精神，不但保证了中瓦全面战略伙伴关系健康稳定发展，更生动诠释了“人类命运共同体”的真谛。
As developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Vanuatu both highly value independence, self-reliance and self-improvement, and are both striving to meet our people’s aspirations for a better life. China and Vanuatu enjoy huge cooperation potential in areas such as agriculture, forestry, fishery, public health, infrastructure, transportation, telecommunications, trade, finance, education, tourism, culture, maritime development, climate change response and sustainable development. As China further deepens reform and opens its door even wider, the nation with a population of 1.4 billion people and a middle-income group of 400 million people will surely offer more opportunities to Vanuatu in trade and development.
中瓦同处亚太地区，同为发展中国家，都高度重视独立自主自强，致力于满足人民对美好生活的向往。双方在农林渔业、公共卫生、基础设施、交通通信、贸易金融、教育培训、旅游文化、海洋开发、应对气候变化、实现可持续发展等领域合作潜力巨大、发展前景广阔。随着中国进一步扩大对外开放，拥有14亿人口和4亿中等收入群体的庞大中国市场，也必将为瓦提供更多出口和发展机会。
Standing at the peak of relations in the 40-year history, China and Vanuatu will embark on a new journey in full sail. We are ready to deepen our friendship and cooperation with solidarity and sincerity. We will promote greater synergy between the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan. We will further enhance friendly exchanges and practical cooperation within the BRI framework, and maintain closer communication and coordination on international affairs – together for a better future of China-Vanuatu relations!
“雄关漫道真如铁，而今迈步从头越。”中瓦双方愿一道努力，以建交40周年为契机，用真心巩固友谊，靠实干推进合作，加速“全球发展倡议”与瓦“人民的计划”的政策和战略对接，加强“一带一路”框架内全方位友好交流和务实合作，增进在国际事务中的沟通和协调，齐心开创中瓦关系更加美好的明天！