On October 22, 2006, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei met with and gave a banquet to the ministers of education from the Pacific island countries, who were here in Beijing to attend the Education Forum for Asia 2006 at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Education.

He spoke highly of the relations between China and Pacific island countries, as well as bilateral exchanges in education and other areas. He also briefed on China's implementation of the measures that Premier Wen Jiabao announced this April at the first Ministerial Conference of "China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum", expressing China's willingness to keep closer coordination with island countries to continuously deepen cooperation on economy, trade, education and culture in a bid to push for bilateral ties.

The guests thanked for China's assistance for their countries' economic and social development over the years and said developing friendly cooperation with China is in the long-term and fundamental interests of island countries. They expressed willingness to make concerted efforts with the Chinese side to further bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the economic, trade, educational and cultural areas.