Roundup: China donates pavilion to mark 160th arrival anniversary of Chinese Fijians

China donated a Chinese pavilion to Fiji, joining the Pacific island country in celebrating the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese Fijians.

Qiu Yuanping, head of China's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, together with Fiji's Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the pavilion, which will soon be erected at the center of the island country's capital, which has witnessed flourishing shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses run by Chinese Fijians since their first arrival in 1855.

"The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council donates this pavilion in honor of the remarkable contribution made by the overseas Chinese in Fiji to the local economic and social development as well as the friendly relations between our two countries," Qiu, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Ping, told her audience.

Rosy Akbar, president of the Fiji-China Friendship Association; Chandu Umaria, special administrator of the Suva City Council; Jenny Seeto, president of the Chinese Association of Fiji; as well as representatives from the local Chinese community and other guests witnessed the historic event.

"I hope that this pavilion will witness the flourishing development of the friendship between our two countries and two peoples ... I hope the Chinese community in Fiji will carry forward the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, take an active approach to integrate into the mainstream society and vigorously promote the Chinese culture, so as to bring the image of the Chinese community and Chinese ethnic group into full display and make contributions to the prosperity of Fiji and the friendship between China and Fiji," Qiu said, thanking the Fijian government and people for their support of the pavilion project.

"The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council will continue to support and encourage the overseas Chinese in Fiji to participate in the communication and cooperation in various areas between China and Fiji," she added. "We will build up the platform for all Chinese in Fiji to contribute to the modernization of China. We will provide more to help them better their living and development, help them integrate into the mainstream society and give back to the local community," added Qiu.

The year 1855 marks the official arrival of the first Chinese in Fiji, although some historians believe that Chinese may have been in the Pacific island country considerably earlier.

To date, it is conservatively estimated that there are some 10, 000 overseas Chinese living in Fiji, a country with a total population of around 840,000.

Calling Chinese Fijians "some of the true pioneers of the modern Fiji," Fijian Foreign Minister Kubuabola praised their contributions to the island country.

"They brought little with them, except fortitude, vision and a strong sense of family and community. Generations since have contributed much to Fiji's socio-economic, political and religious landscape ... The descendants of the early pioneers, some of whom join us today, have rightly taken their place as Fijians in the new Fiji, dedicated to nation-building and fulfilling the dreams of their forefathers, who saw the opportunities their new island home provided," he said.

"You are a small community but with a large heart for this nation. This pavilion will not only demonstrate to this generation the rich cultural diversity that exists in Fiji, but will be a beacon to the next. No group should have anything to fear, not now, not in the future. We are all Fijians, united and steadfast, like this pavilion will be, in our dream for a better Fiji," the minister said.

Extending his appreciation to the Chinese government for the assistance it has rendered to Fiji, Kubuabola said the solid structure of the pavilion "literally demonstrates the solid foundation and principles upon which our bilateral relations have been established."

"My well wishes to our Chinese friends on this auspicious occasion of the 160th anniversary of the Chinese settlement and may our bilateral relations continue to flourish under the principle of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty," said the Fijian minister. Endi