SYDNEY (Reuters) – China said on Saturday it had signed an agreement with Samoa to boost diplomatic ties between the two countries, while Australia said it had a comprehensive plan for the Pacific amid rivalry between Beijing and Canberra in the region.
The agreement between China and Samoa follows another security pact signed last month between Beijing and the Solomons, which is interpreted by Washington and Canberra as a step towards a reinforcement of the Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km from the Australian coasts.
New Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has made the Pacific islands a diplomatic priority, said on Saturday his government’s plan was based on a defense training school, maritime security support, a increased aid to the region and a recommitment to the fight against climate change.
“We will be proactive in the region, we want to engage,” he told the press.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a trip to the Pacific to conclude a free trade and security agreement with ten countries in the region, has completed his tour of Samoa, where he met the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and signed several documents, including an “economic and technical cooperation agreement”, Samoa said in a statement.
“Samoa and the People’s Republic of China will continue to work towards the pursuit of greater collaboration that will meet our common interests and commitments,” the statement read.
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, for his part, said on Saturday that he had a “wonderful meeting” with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who visited his country a few days after taking office.
“Fiji is no one’s backyard: we are part of a Pacific family,” he wrote on Twitter, in a post accompanied by a photo of the two politicians shaking hands. .
Penny Wong said Canberra would be a no-strings attached partner, while Wang Yi expressed hope that the relationship between Beijing and the Solomons could serve as a regional model.
(Report by Samuel McKeith Sydney; French version Claude Chendjou)