The Pacific island nation of Samoa was one of the first countries in the region to recognize the People's Republic of China, and 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Speaking to Wang Guan of the China Media Group (CMG), Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa stressed that mutual respect and trust are key to a successful partnership.
"Mutual respect and trust. I think these are the basic elements of a successful partnership," Prime Minister Mata'afa stressed when she spoke of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Samoa and China.
"Fifty years is not a short period. I think now, as I speak to your leaders, is a good time to review our journey, consolidate what has been done well and reflect on the next steps," said the Prime Minister.
Mata'afa stressed that despite the difference in size of the countries - China as a world power and Samoa as a smaller island nation - the two countries have been able to successfully complement each other. "As a representative of a smaller country, I often point out that everything at the international level is focused on the big things. When it comes to development finance or climate funds, we often hear that our projects are too small." she explained.
"That's why we keep asking: Why don't we develop models that suit smaller countries? This is an ongoing dialogue we have with our partners. Through our long-term partnership with China, we have the opportunity to explore this area further," She added.
Fiame Naomi Mata'afa further stressed the importance of areas such as agriculture, which has been largely research-based in recent years. "We should now move towards creating value-added business activities. This is the next phase of this partnership. Pilot projects are useful, but how do we ensure their long-term sustainability? The key is to develop mutual business interests and cooperation in trade," she said.
The Prime Minister believes that such cooperation will bring mutual benefits and strengthen both bilateral relations and the economic development of both countries.
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