FSM Information Services
Press Release
FSM First Pacific Island Country to Receive China’s Special Envoy to the Pacific; Secretary Elieisar Receives Special Envoy Qian
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On March 2nd, 2023, the Honorable Kandhi A. Elieisar—Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—received His Excellency Qian Bo, Special Envoy of the People’s Republic of China (China) to the Pacific. Formerly China’s Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, Special Envoy Qian chose the FSM as the first country to visit in his new capacity as China’s representative to the Pacific (and, by extension, entities such as the Pacific Islands Forum), with the next stops on his tour including the FSM’s brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Consisting of a formal two-hour-long bilateral dialogue and informal dinner engagement, Secretary Elieisar and Special Envoy Qian spoke on numerous items of mutual importance to the FSM and China.
Multilaterally, Special Envoy Qian described how China supports the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which is the FSM’s and the Pacific Islands Forum’s regional strategy for development.
Bilaterally, Special Envoy Qian described that China intends to donate 2,000 solar lights to the FSM and approximately $140,000 USD (one million RMB) for the procurement of supplies for the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Special Envoy solicited the FSM’s support for their candidate at the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), and also the FSM’s support on forthcoming statements on human rights.
Secretary Elieisar thanked China for its support to the FSM, including the proposed forthcoming donations of solar lights and office supplies, and noted that the FSM had previously supported China’s candidate for the FAO during the previous election.
Special Envoy Qian solicited the FSM’s support for a Memorandum of Understanding on partnering with Blue Prosperity Micronesia, and provided updates on China’s development projects in the FSM. Additionally, the Special Envoy discussed other items of bilateral and multilateral interest, such as the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative; the 2nd China-PICS Foreign Ministers Meeting’s outcomes; the 2nd China-PICS Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture & Fisheries to occur in late April or early May, 2023; and the Global Sustainable Transport Forum this September 2023.
Secretary Elieisar reiterated the FSM’s Great Friendship with the People and Government of China, and solicited China’s support in tackling Climate Change; in engaging with the Pacific Islands Forum on matters of interest to the Pacific; and to assist in ensuring that the Blue Pacific Continent remains peaceful.
The FSM-China Great Friendship began when the two countries established diplomatic relations on September 11th, 1989.
