President Panuelo’s Statement at the China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue

News Release from FSM PIO, 28 May 2021

Statement by H.E. David W. Panuelo

On the Occasion of the China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue

May 28th, 2021

Kaselehlie and greetings from our beautiful islands in the Federated States of Micronesia. I am honored to have the opportunity, on this 100-year anniversary of the Communist Party of China, to extend our congratulations to the People and Government of China, our very dear Chinese friends, for your recent successes. From your successful containment of the COVID-19 Pandemic to the eradication of extreme poverty, the Chinese People are blessed to see real development and real change within their own life-times. That is a testament to the Communist Party of China’s intentions to work together towards a prosperous community with a shared future for humankind.

The Federated States of Micronesia applauds the hard work and vision of H.E. Xi Jinping, T.H. Li Keqiang, and the People of China, for their accomplishments and their continued commitment to global prosperity. As I emphasize to our Nation’s citizens, it is a testament to our Great Friendship that the People and Government of China provide generous economic and development assistance to our islands, and in the form of grants, not loans. From major infrastructure projects that benefit the average citizens’ life on a daily basis to technical capacity-building efforts to improve our ability to sustain ourselves, our Nation is stronger and more resilient because of our friendship with China and its People.

Of particular importance to the Federated States of Micronesia and our People is the recent establishment of a Climate Change Working Group between our Great Friends in the People’s Republic of China and our Enduring Partners in the United States of America. As an existential threat that affects every country on the Planet, it is our view that it is both essential and vitally important that our Great Friends and Enduring Partners cooperate together. We hope to see more cooperation, and less competition, between two of our closest allies.

Just as the Federated States of Micronesia embraces the One China Policy, so too do we embrace today’s theme of “Working Together to Build Consensus Across the Ocean and Pursue Shared Development.” The theme will compliment and catapult our Nation’s, and our Blue Pacific Continent’s, cooperation with China to greater heights. As stewards of our Planet, we must remember that the Ocean does not divide us, but rather, the Ocean unites us.

On that note, I reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to the Belt & Road Initiative and offer our support to help ensure that the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road adds value and increases the prosperity of citizens across the Blue Pacific Continent. Recalling my statement at our bilateral engagement in Beijing, I again reaffirm our offer for the Federated States of Micronesia to become an economic and commercial hub for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. We believe that our location would be vital in serving the air and maritime logistics as a transit hub for goods in transit between China and the South Pacific, and China and South America.

Excellencies, I appreciate the importance of being concise in this engagement, so I will conclude my remarks here. I extend to you both my personal appreciation to each and every one of you for your continued commitment to our World’s prosperity, and on behalf of the Federated States of Micronesia I extend to you peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity.

Thank you.