China's cooperation and assistance never come with political strings attached. China never imposes its will on others and never makes empty promises. Vanuatu and other island nations naturally welcome such a partnership, according to Li Minggang, Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu.

From East Asia to the South Pacific, across the vast ocean between China and Vanuatu, a bridge of cooperation and trust has been built. Over the course of more than 40 years of diplomatic ties, how have the two countries transformed their relationship into a model of mutual respect, solidarity and coordination between developing nations? How has the Belt and Road Initiative taken shape in Vanuatu? And what sets China's presence in the Pacific apart from the approach of traditional Western powers?

In this episode of "Diplomacy Talk," Ambassador Li provided an in-depth look at the current state and future direction of China-Vanuatu relations.

Following is the transcript of the interview.

Diplomacy Talk: Over the 40-plus years since establishing diplomatic ties, how have China and Vanuatu built a relationship that serves as a model of mutual respect, solidarity and coordination between developing countries?

Li Minggang: Vanuatu gained independence in 1980. At the time, China, at the United Nations, actively called on the international community to support the legitimate rights and interests of the people of Vanuatu. China took concrete actions to help Vanuatu end British and French colonial rule and achieve national independence. Two years later, in 1982, the two nations established diplomatic relations.

Since establishing ties, the two countries have acted as good friends, partners and brothers, supporting each other in building a better future. Regarding development cooperation, China-aided infrastructure — including roads, schools, government buildings, stadiums and the National Convention Center — has significantly improved Vanuatu's living conditions and development environment.

Chinese medical teams and police experts have worked at the community level, providing strong support for public health and social order. Additionally, through government scholarships, short-term training and youth exchange programs, China has helped cultivate a large pool of technical and managerial talent for Vanuatu.

In international affairs, China and Vanuatu jointly safeguard the interests of developing nations, championing multilateralism and international justice and fairness. Vanuatu supports and actively participates in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). China firmly supports Vanuatu in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence, respects its right to independently choose its development path, and speaks out for Vanuatu on the international stage.

China attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vanuatu. In 2022, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in a congratulatory message to then President of Vanuatu Tallis Obed Moses that China-Vanuatu relations have become a model of mutual respect, solidarity and coordination between developing countries. In July 2024, then Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai paid an official visit to China, the two sides agreed to enhance all-weather and all-round friendly cooperation to jointly build a China-Vanuatu community with a shared future in the new era.

Diplomacy Talk: Vanuatu was among the first Pacific island countries to sign a BRI cooperation plan with China. How is the initiative being implemented, and what specific cooperation projects are underway?

Li Minggang: Vanuatu, a small island nation in the South Pacific, uses the BRI as a platform to integrate into global cooperation. Guided by the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China has shared its development philosophy with Vanuatu. Acting on the Chinese proverb "to prosper, you must first build a road," the Chinese government has focused on assisting Vanuatu with infrastructure development.

In 2024, I attended the inauguration of a road on Pentecost Island. Looking from the air, I saw that it stood out as the only modern road on the island. A year later, residents are fully reaping the benefits. Parents are particularly relieved, as children who once walked two or three hours to school can now make the trip in just 20 minutes by car. The most visible changes are the surge in vehicles and boats, reflecting a vibrant local economy. Similar transformations have occurred on Tanna, Espiritu Santo and Malakula islands. Local communities are overjoyed, praising China for building these roads to happiness and prosperity.

China also places great emphasis on capacity building in Vanuatu, following the principle of "teaching people how to fish rather than simply giving them fish." Over 10Vanuatu students are selected annually to study in China, and multiple training programs are organized in both countries each year, covering agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, the green economy, and new energy. As a result, hundreds of people in Vanuatu have acquired practical skills to contribute to building their homeland.

Currently, both sides are stepping up high-quality cooperation. China will closely align the BRI with Vanuatu initiatives — such as the "Santo Economic Corridor" and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent — to help Vanuatu develop into a regional hub for shipping, logistics and tourism. We are also promoting direct flights to facilitate the movement of people and goods, paving the way for more Chinese tourists to experience the charm of this Pacific island nation.

Diplomacy Talk: Chinese medical teams and police assistance groups have become a hallmark of our cooperation on the ground. Could you share more details about their work?

Li Minggang: Vanuatu faces challenges in its health care system, including limited medical resources and a shortage of health care professionals. Since the 1980s, China has dispatched over 200 medical personnel to Vanuatu who have handled more than 300,000 patient visits-equivalent to the entire population of Vanuatu. The Chinese medical team primarily works at Vanuatu National Hospital, the main hospital in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila, and has also conducted medical visits to remote islands on multiple occasions. Chinese experts in traditional Chinese medicine, surgery, dentistry, cardiology, urology, clinical nursing and other fields have dedicated themselves to serving the local community while generously mentoring local staff. They are true "white-coated diplomats," contributing significantly to building a China-Vanuatu health community.

Besides that, although Vanuatu generally enjoys good public security, it has faced challenges in recent years, including an increase in criminal and drunk-driving cases, as well as a shortage of police personnel. At the request of Vanuatu, China has dispatched four groups of police assistance experts since 2023. Our police personnel have demonstrated strong professional competence and extensive law enforcement experience, earning high recognition from their counterparts in Vanuatu. Specialized training courses, such as drone operation and drunk-driving monitoring, have proven highly practical and helped address personnel shortages. Additionally, China has provided police supplies and advanced electronic forensics equipment, effectively enhancing the law enforcement capabilities of the Vanuatu Police Force.

Diplomacy Talk: In recent years, Pacific island countries have become a focal point of international attention and geopolitics. China's cooperation with South Pacific nations has drawn widespread interest, along with some external misconceptions. How do you view claims of China expanding its influence in the South Pacific? In what fundamental ways does China's presence in the region differ from that of traditional Western powers? How does Vanuatu perceive China's growing role?

Li Minggang: First, China is not a newcomer to the South Pacific. Exchanges between our peoples have been ongoing for centuries. Many friends from Vanuatu who have visited China's Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan have marveled at the similarities between Chinese and Melanesian civilizations.

Second, while South Pacific nations were historically colonized by Western powers, they are now sovereign, independent states and equal members of the international community. It is entirely natural for China to develop relations with countries in this region.

Moreover, China develops its relations with island nations based on the four principles proposed by President Xi Jinping: China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries; China fully respects the will of Pacific island countries; China fully respects the cultural traditions of Pacific island countries; and China fully respects the unity and self-reliance of Pacific island countries.

China's cooperation and assistance never come with political strings attached. China never imposes its will on others and never makes empty promises. Vanuatu and other island nations naturally welcome such a partnership. They oppose geopolitical rivalry in the region, reject the hype around a so-called "China threat," and object to being treated as anyone's backyard.

Diplomacy Talk: The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) emphasized the need to "promote high-standard opening up and create new horizons for mutually beneficial cooperation." How is "high-standard opening up" reflected in China's cooperation with Pacific island countries such as Vanuatu?

Li Minggang: Vanuatu regards China as a key development partner and closely followed the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, eager to understand China's future plans for international cooperation. I recently briefed Vanuatu's high-level officials, including Prime Minister Jotham Napat, on these developments. In essence, China's philosophy of opening up emphasizes common development and mutual benefit.

Let's take practical cooperation between China and Vanuatu as an example. Our collaboration in infrastructure, education, health care and disaster relief is not a simple transaction of "giving" and "taking." Instead, projects are jointly designed based on the island nation's own development plans. Initiatives such as the China-aided roads, the National Convention Center and Korman Stadium were all proposed by Vanuatu to meet its specific needs. China provided the technology and funding, and upon completion, the projects were fully handed over to Vanuatu for management and use. This approach embodies respect for sovereignty and equality.

As President Xi has emphasized, China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. High-standard opening up entails not just the flow of capital, but the two-way movement of resources, markets and talent.

In May 2025, Johnny Koanapo Rasou, Vanuatu's deputy prime minister and minister of finance and economic management, led a delegation to the 20th Western China International Fair to promote Vanuatu's investment opportunities and tourism resources while engaging in deep exchanges with enterprises from across China.

In November 2025, Vanuatu participated in the China International Import Expo for the eighth consecutive time. During the event, Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Marc Ati and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao signed the Framework Agreement on Upgrading the Economic Partnership, launching negotiations for a China-Vanuatu free trade agreement. This will bring more high-quality Vanuatu products — such as coffee, beef, tuna, noni juice, coconut meat and coconut oil — to Chinese shopping lists. Simultaneously, it creates conditions for Chinese businesses to engage in trade and investment in Vanuatu, supporting the country's sustainable development.

Diplomacy Talk: Vanuatu is at the forefront of efforts to advance international legal intervention on the climate crisis. What is your perspective on the real-world impact of climate change on Pacific island countries, such as Vanuatu? What specific cooperation projects and plans do China and Vanuatu have to address this challenge?

Li Minggang: Climate change poses a significant challenge to the development and survival of island nations like Vanuatu. In 2025, Vanuatu actively urged the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on climate change, affirming the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change as the primary legal framework for addressing the crisis and emphasizing that developed nations must take the lead. China actively participated in this advisory opinion process.

Faced with the shared challenge of climate change, which affects all of humanity, China has not stood by idly. Instead, we are working hand in hand with Vanuatu and other countries. In September 2025, at the United Nations Climate Summit, President Xi announced China's 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions in his video remarks, injecting greater momentum and certainty into global climate governance and fully demonstrating the sense of responsibility and commitment of China as a responsible major country.

In recent years, when Vanuatu has faced extreme weather, China has promptly dispatched aircraft and naval vessels for disaster relief. To strengthen cooperation in marine observation, forecasting and disaster mitigation, China built and handed over a joint ocean observation station. We are also constructing four emergency shelters in outer island communities to prepare for cyclones and other natural disasters.

Diplomacy Talk: Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has been advancing the modernization of its national governance capacity, achieving globally recognized accomplishments. What inspirations and lessons do you believe the experiences accumulated by China in this process offer to developing countries, such as Vanuatu, in navigating governance challenges? Not long ago, President Xi Jinping proposed the GGI. How do you view the relationship between China's domestic governance improvements and its participation in global governance?

Li Minggang: Since the 18th CPC National Congress, I have worked in several developing countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Kuwait and Vanuatu. During this period, China has continuously advanced the modernization of its national governance system and governance capacity, secured a decisive victory in the fight against poverty, achieved the poverty reduction target of the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, and accomplished two remarkable feats: rapid economic development and long-term social stability. Our friends express pride and admiration for these accomplishments. In the face of a complex international situation and domestic development challenges, they have turned to China for development experience, which has become a global trend.

Take Vanuatu as an example. After gaining independence, it adopted a Western-style parliamentary system. With numerous political parties, its governments often prove unstable, which hinders policy continuity. During my more than three years in Vanuatu, the country has had five different governments. All have remained friendly toward China while pondering how such a large nation can achieve both political and social stability alongside economic development.

In 2025, I invited 18 Vanuatu parliamentarians to visit China to address their questions. The exchange proved highly effective. As Charlot Salwai, former prime minister of Vanuatu and a prominent statesman, noted, "The answers to the development challenges faced by Vanuatu can all be found in China."

On global issues, Vanuatu strongly endorses the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and is willing to collaborate with China in building a China-Vanuatu community with a shared future, a community with a shared future between China and Pacific island countries, and ultimately contributing to a community with a shared future for humanity. In 2024, Vanuatu confirmed its membership in the Group of Friends of the GDI. It endorsed the principles and spirit of the GSI, hoping for early cooperation; supported the GCI as a vision where "all flowers bloom together in a garden of shared prosperity," and recognized the GGI as offering small island states a practical path to participate in global governance.

Presenter: Wang Xiaohui

Production supervisor: Xue Lisheng

Co-production supervisor: Li Xiaohua

Executive producer: Zhang Liying

Producer: Zhang Ruomeng

Editors: Zhang Heling, Jiao Yuan, Lyu Yiyi, Xia Fangting

Produced by chinadiplomacy.org.cn