Be fair in Pacific region, China told

The Pacific Islands Forum has warned China its engagement with the region must be respectful.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor. Picture: Supplied

The Pacific Islands Forum has warned China its engagement with the region must be fair and respectful, and called on the country to do more to curb its carbon emissions.

PIF secretary-general Dame Meg Taylor told a high-ranking Chinese delegation in Samoa, led by Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, that intensifying geopolitical competition in the region had put the Pacific in a strong position to be “more considered and assertive with its priorities for engagement”.

“Excellencies, we are not ignorant to the heightened evolution of partnership relationships in the Pacific region and the advantages and disadvantages these offer,” she told the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Co-operation Forum in Apia.

“As we work together to forge stronger relationships, we must ensure that these partnerships effectively deliver for our people in a fair and efficient manner that is built on mutual trust and respect.”

Dame Meg said mitigating and adapting to climate change were the region’s top priorities, declaring it was not enough for nation’s to simply meet their Paris agreement commitments.

“We need more ambition,” she said.

“China, as the world’s second largest economy, can be an important ally for the Pacific region in the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process by taking a lead in escalating its ambition level and its commitments under the Paris Agreement — a valuable opportunity to demonstrate commitment to addressing our region’s greatest threat.”

Under the Paris agreement, China won’t start to reduce emissions until 2030.

Scott Morrison frustrated Pacific nations at the PIF leaders’ meeting in August when he refused to agree to a statement calling for steeper emissions cuts and the phasing out of coal-fired power.

The Prime Minister told PIF at the time that Australia would meet its Paris commitments, while other nations “will triple their emissions” by 2030 — a veiled reference to China.

Eight Pacific nations that recognise China are attending the forum in Apia on Monday, where China is ramping up its efforts to win over island nations with investment offers and trade deals.

The forum is expected to be attended by 400 officials and 200 businesspeople on Monday, while the head of Australia’s Office of the Pacific, Ewen McDonald, has been invited as an observer.

China signed seven new MOUs with Samoa ahead of the meeting pledging co-operation on issues ranging from infrastructure investment to e-commerce, production improvements, education and agriculture.