China assists Pacific island countries with clean energy projects

MAJURO -- China is ready to continue to help the Pacific island countries in tackling climate change within its capacity and through South-South cooperation, said the Chinese special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue on Friday.

Li Qiangmin, China's special envoy for China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue, told the Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Partners Dialogue Meeting, in Majuro, capital of Marshall Islands, on Friday that China fully understands the special situation and concerns of the Pacific island countries on climate change.

China will continue to help PICs to develop clean energy projects to support them in increasing mitigation and adaptation capabilities and realizing sustainable development. China will work with the Pacific island countries to call for more funding from developed countries, and support the small island states and least developed countries in getting prior access to these funds in tackling climate change.

"China has assisted PICs with various clean energy projects, including small hydro plants, pilot ecological farms, bio-gas projects, small wind-power generators and solar-power road maps," he told the dialogue meeting attended by US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and representative of the European Union, Japan and other Post-Forum dialogue partners.

China has made an annual donation of $150,000 to $180,000 to the Pacific Regional Environment Program for climate change programs.

Under the framework of the International Cooperation Project, China has provided training courses and in-kind donations to other developing countries.

"We will implement well the 200 million yuan ($32 million) International Cooperation Project by donating green and energy-saving products, and provide training courses on climate change, renewable energy development, disaster prevention and mitigation and marine resources management as concrete steps to support PICs in increasing mitigation and adaptation capabilities and realizing sustainable development," said the Chinese special envoy.

The 25th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting was held in Majuro on Friday, following the 44th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.