On September 11th, 2024, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the FSM, an article by Ambassador Wu Wei titled “Jointly Create A Brighter Future for China-FSM Relations in the New Era” was published in The Kaselehlie Press, the bi-weekly newspaper in the FSM, in its Vol. 24 and Iss. 20. The article reviews the achievements of China-FSM relations, introduces the results of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, elaborates on China’s principles of cooperation with the FSM, and looks forward to the bright future of China-FSM relations.
The full text is as follows:
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Federated States of Micronesia. The past 35 years has been a splendid journey of overcoming challenges and enhancing partnership, and China-FSM cooperation and friendship have steadily deepened, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and peoples.
A bosom friend who’s afar brings a distant land near. Although China and the FSM are separated by the sea, our traditional friendship enjoys a long history. In 1989, the two countries issued the joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia have decided, through friendly consultations, to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level as from 11 September 1989. The Government of the FSM recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. The two Governments agree to develop the diplomatic relations of friendship and cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
Over the years, both China and the FSM have stayed true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, and regarded each other as friends in need and sincere partners. In April this year when H.E. President Simina paid a state visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President Simina. The two presidents reached important common understandings on further deepening bilateral relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-FSM friendship will continue to charge ahead and become stronger over time.
China-FSM relations have achieved steady progress over the past 35 years. China and the FSM have always treated each other as equals and firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests. China is one of the first countries who recognize the independence of the FSM and support its membership in the United Nations. China always supports the FSM in its safeguarding national sovereignty and independence, following a path of development in line with its national conditions, revitalizing its economy and improving people’s well-being. The FSM side firmly supports the one-China principle and supports China’s just position in safeguarding its core interests. Our bilateral relations have progressed from friendly cooperation to strategic partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. The development of China-FSM relations has advanced the common interests of both countries and peoples, and promoted peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
China and the FSM have stood together through thick and thin over the past 35 years. In times of difficulties and challenges, China and the FSM have provided mutual assistance, jointly demonstrating the sense of building a global community of shared future. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FSM side provided valuable donations to China at the earliest time possible to support China’s fight against the pandemic. China reciprocated by providing various kinds of assistance within its capacity to help the FSM overcome the pandemic. In July last year when China suffered from typhoon disaster, President Simina sent a letter of condolence to President Xi Jinping, which China will always bear in mind. In the first half of this year, at the trying period of severe drought in the FSM, China actively provided emergency humanitarian supplies to the FSM to help local people overcome difficulties, and improve their ability to cope with climate change.
Practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results over the past 35 years. China upholds the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and with the commitment to the greater good and shared interests, and attaches high importance to the development needs of the FSM. Within frameworks such as South-South Cooperation and Belt and Road cooperation, bilateral economic and technical cooperation projects such as roads, bridges, schools and gymnasiums have been implemented in succession in the FSM. The China-aid secondary road in Pohnpei State is praised by the locals as one of the best roads in the FSM. The China-aid agricultural technological cooperation project has been steadily advancing, and the China-aid FSM Pilot Farm has become a well-known people-supported project. Skills including vegetable planting, pig breeding and biogas application have entered the daily life of ordinary people. The China-aid National Conference Center and the renovation project of the Pohnpei State Government building are under intensive construction. Once completed, they will become new symbols of the friendship between our two countries.
People-to-people and cultural exchanges have brought one highlight after another over the past 35 years. Sister provinces/states and sister cities of our two countries have engaged in close and fruitful interactions and benefited both peoples in concrete ways. Guangdong Province and Chuuk State, Shandong Province and Kosrae State, Zhejiang Province and Pohnpei State, Hainan Province and Yap State, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Yap State have respectively established sister province/state relations. Zhongshan City has long maintained friendly exchanges and cooperation with relevant cities in the FSM. Chinese local governments have carried out a variety of exchange and cooperation projects including medical teams and art troupes in the FSM. Programs such as Chinese teaching, Chinese government scholarships, short-term training and workshops have supported the nation-building of the FSM and China-FSM cooperation. China-FSM medical care collaboration also contributes a lot to the betterment of health and well-being of the FSM people. In April this year during his state visit to China, President Simina visited three major enterprises in Dongguan and Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and boarded Changdao, a zero-carbon committed island of Yantai City, Shandong Province. The local practice of Chinese modernization lays a more solid foundation for deepening friendly sub-national exchanges between China and the FSM.
China and the FSM are both developing countries and members of the Global South with common development needs. In developing relations with Pacific Island countries including the FSM, China adheres to the principle of “four fully respects”. First, China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific Island countries, and upholds the equality of all countries, big or small. Second, China fully respects the will of Pacific Island countries and pursues extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and win-win results. Third, China fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific Island countries, and adheres to harmony in diversity and shared beauty of diverse cultures. Fourth, China fully respects the unity and self-reliance of Pacific Island countries, and supports them in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, contributing to the building of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, inclusive and prosperous Blue Pacific.
Looking ahead, China and the FSM will continue to adhere to mutually beneficial win-win cooperation for common development, synergize development strategies, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in various fields including but not limited to infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, health, green and low-carbon development and education. The two sides stand ready to strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and advance the building of a global community of shared future, so as to better achieve win-win cooperation.
My friends, this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China that concluded recently adopted the Resolution of CPC Central Committee on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which made it clear to the world that China in the new era will continue to unswervingly deepen reform and opening up, advance Chinese modernization and follow the path of peaceful development. The strong resilience and potential of Chinese economic development will be further amplified, bringing more opportunities for global development. China welcomes the FSM to get on board the express train of China’s development and share in the dividends of China’s development.
Even mountains and seas cannot separate people with common goals and ideals. China is willing to work with the FSM side, taking the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as strategic guidance, to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, enhance dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly create a next glorious 35 years of China-FSM relations.