On April 5, the first ministerial meeting of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum opened in Fiji. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech Win-win Cooperation for Common Development, comprehensively expounding China's policy with the Pacific island countries and proposed the important measures to be taken by China to strengthen the friendly cooperation with those countries.

President of the Federated States of Micronesia Joseph J. Urusemal, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Michael Somare, Vanuatuan Prime Minister Ham Lini, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Hon. Jim Marurai, Prime Minister of Tonga Frederick Vaka'uta Sevele, Prime Minister of Niue Young Vivian, representative of Prime Minister of Samoa –Minister of Commerce, Industry & Labor Hans Joachim Keil, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Greg Urwin and delegates of the Australian and New Zealand governments attended the opening ceremony. About 600 personnel from the business communities of China and the Pacific island countries were also present at the ceremony.

In his speech, Wen said that both China and the Pacific island countries are developing countries in the Asia Pacific region and dedicated to economic revitalization and social progress. Facing with new international situation and increasing economic globalization, people in the region are eager to seize the opportunity and meet the challenge. It is against this background that the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum is being held, with the purpose of "strengthening cooperation and seeking common development" to bring greater benefit to people of all countries. The Forum is a landmark event in the relations between China and the Pacific island countries and will set a new model for South-South cooperation.

Wen noted that China is committed to "promoting peace and development through cooperation" and pushing forward the friendship and cooperation with the Pacific island countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Politically, China maintains that all countries, whether big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, should extend mutual respect and treat each other as equals; economically, China is dedicated to implementing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and helping the island countries improve capacity for self-development; in international affairs, China firmly upholds the rights and interests of developing countries, including the Pacific island countries.

Wen proposed that China and the Pacific island countries strengthen the governmental, parliamentary, political party and non-governmental exchanges to build up mutual understanding and trust; reinforce consultation and coordination on major international and regional issues, accommodate each other's concerns and extend mutual support; and establish a new economic and trade relationship of mutually beneficial cooperation in response to the needs of the island countries. To meet the current needs for economic development of the Pacific island countries, China has decided to provide RMB 3 billion of preferential loans in the next three years, give zero-tariff treatment to the majority of exports to China from the least developed countries in the region that have diplomatic ties with China, cancel their debts that became mature at the end of 2005, extend by ten years the payment of debts contracted by other island countries that became mature at the end of 2005 and offer training to 2,000 people from the island countries in the next 3 years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony respectively, Laisenia Qarase and Michael Somare made positive comments on the relations between China and the Pacific island countries, noting that China is an important country in both Asia and the Pacific. They spoke highly of and extended welcome to China's efforts to reinforce friendship and cooperation with the Pacific island countries and join hands with those countries to cope with the common challenge. They said that the inauguration of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum opens a new page in bilateral relations. The Pacific island countries expect to use this important Forum to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and build a closer partnership with greater vitality and for common development.

The meeting is jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Fijian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai presided over the opening ceremony.

Following the opening ceremony, China and related island countries signed the Action Plan of China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation with the presence of Wen Jiabao and leaders of the participating island countries.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Wen also attended a traditional welcome ceremony hosted by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.