On October 28th, 2016, a Seminar on the Cooperation and Exchange between China (Guangdong) and Vanuatu was held in the International Conference Hall of the Administration Building on the North Campus. Before the seminar, school Party Secretary SUI Guangjun, President ZHONG Weihe and other GDUFS’s school leaders received the delegation and welcomed them in the VIP Hall of the Administration Building.

Meeting in the VIP Hall

Before the Seminar After mutual greetings, Joe Natuman, Vanuatu’s Vice President, fully affirmed the contributions GDUFS has made to cultivating international talents. He said, via preferential policies conducted by the Chinese government, that about 200 Vanuatu’s students are able to study in China. Now, Vanuatu is considering setting up a university in Vanuatu, hoping more Chinese students will go there for further study.

SUI expressed his gladness to Vanuatu’s plan and promised GDUFS will fully support them during the process. He then mentioned that with the development of the Center for Pacific Island Countries Studies (an organization built in 2015, aiming to promoting the cooperation of Pacific Island Countries), the association between Vanuatu and China is becoming closer. Therefore, this is an excellent opportunity to deepen their bilateral cooperation.

ZHONG Weihe (left), Joe Natuman (middle) and SUI Guangjun (right)

During the Seminar

After a short meeting in the VIP Hall, both sides went to the International Conference Hall to hold the official seminar.

Joe Natuman put forward his opinion. He said that, as early as in the 19th century, Vanuatu had already imported tea, wood and other materials from China. And in 1982, both sides established diplomatic relations. Undoubtedly, the two parties have a historical friendship. He also looked forward to building an airport in Vanuatu and contacting China Southern for cooperation.

Joe Natuman

MA Hua, Deputy Director of Guangdong Provincial Department of Commerce, then gave an introduction concerning the development of Guangdong’s foreign trade. He pointed that with agglomerate production factors, complete facilities and solid industrial base, Guangdong has developed rapidly. He then referred to the broad prospects between both sides and thus gave some pieces of advice: expanding bilateral trade; strengthening industrial cooperation; establishing a cooperative communication mechanism, and so on.

Deputy Director Ma Hua

SUI delivered a welcoming address. He pointed out that in the forefront of Chinese reform and opening up, Guangdong established a deep relationship with Vanuatu fairly early. And the opening ceremony of the training classes of the Pacific Island’s Public Servants has also deepened mutual cultural identity. Therefore, all of these advantages have provided a favorable platform for further collaboration.

 

SUI Gave a Welcoming Address

CHEN Hanxi, Deputy Secretary General of Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, said that with the background of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Maritime Silk Road in the 2oth Century, China thinks highly of the role of the Pacific Island Countries. Although these countries have abundant oceanic resources, they face difficulties in economic structure, fragile natural resources, unstable society, and so on. Therefore, both sides have the duty to explore the best methods of economic development.

Following CHEN’s speech, ZHANG Bing, Mayor of Foshan, mentioned the practical actions Foshan has taken for Vanuatu’s development, including donating facilities, medical products and books. He also mentioned that he will welcome the mayor of Vila (capital of Vanuatu) to attend the carnival in Foshan. Next year, Foshan’s Tourist Administration will send researchers to Vanuatu to establish tourist resources there and will encourage citizens to visit there if possible.

Later, a Vanuatu’s representative also pointed that about 150 enterprises’ establishment in Vanuatu proves the potential business opportunities in Vanuatu. He hoped China will offer more opportunities to Vanuatu and Vanuatu will offer more convenience for Chinese tourists.

Conference Site

Ending

President ZHONG Weihe said, “It is a fruitful meeting.”And although the seminar ended, the inspiration and thinking it has brought us are perennial and beneficial. It is hoped that China and Vanuatu will conduct deeper cooperation in various areas in the near future.