ALOTAU, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 1 MAY 2012: The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Ministerial Meeting opened with a keynote speech from China offering close cooperation with the PNA for three key areas – market access, domestic development and fisheries science.

Kicking off the two-day Ministerial Meeting, Mr Xiaobing Liu, Director of International cooperation Dept, of China Fisheries Bureau, delivered the Keynote Speech entitled “Fisheries Cooperation between China and PNA Countries”. Mr Liu explained China and the PNA have complementary interests: “China is one of major fisheries countries, with the greatest number of fishing vessels and fisher in the world, and with long history of aquaculture while PNA countries have the largest fishing ground of tuna in the world, with strong aspiration of development of domestic tuna fisheries. There is a great potential opportunity to cooperate between two sides”.

China is the 4^th largest fish market and the number one fish exporter, with an export value of $17.9 billion USD and import value reached of $8 billion USD. Mr Liu said he understood the development aspirations of PNA countries and stated: “China is prepared to work with PNA Parties to look at possible market access concessions to support parties and is keen to explore Multilateral, Bilateral or other arrangements, including landing and domestic participation with all PNA countries, either at governmental or industry level, or through PNA.”

Mr Liu said it is estimated that already the Chinese tuna fleet has made 30 million USD of contribution to PNA countries economy annually in recent years, directly or indirectly. This includes domestic vessels and onshore processing. He said China welcomed further investment opportunities, pointing to four recent examples:

•Shanghai Kaichuan Fishing Company has invested 10 million USD to set up a tuna processing plant –

Pan Pacific Foods (PPF) in Majuro, Marshall Islands, with 500 workers currently working in the plant and US$5.0 millions per annual to the local economy.

•Zhejiang Zhenyang Group (HAILISHENG) also has intention to set up a tuna processing plant in PNG, the mission from the group will visit PNG by the end of this Month to further investment of USD22-25.0 millions and generate 1,000 jobs.

•The Chinese Government also provided as grant aid to the Government of PNG, a frozen tuna processing facility in Lae City, PNG. This is run commercially by a local company for processing frozen tuna for export.

•China also has assisted in financing infrastructure, e.g. Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in PNG.

Mr Liu also spoke about the willingness of China to cooperate with PNA and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) on science and management of tuna, mentioning specifically scientific cruises, stock assessments and development studies. He added that China could provide training opportunities in fisheries development, processing and science: “China has the capacity to provide training, and technical support on fish farming, stock assessment to PNA countries such as Shanghai Ocean University; Wuxi Freshwater Fisheries Training Center, China Academy of Fisheries Sciences, that designated by FAO and NACA (network of Aquaculture Center of Asia and Pacific).”

PNA Ministers thanked Mr Liu and expressed their interest in taking up the opportunities for mutual development, trade, and increased market access, through domestic development in PNA countries, and assistance with the fisheries sector.

FOR INTERVIEWS PHONE +675 72723002