China lays out policy of stability in Pacific

China laid out a raft of measures to help the sustainable development of Pacific island nations at a meeting of Pacific leaders and development partners in the Cook Islands. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told the Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Partners Dialogue Meeting, attended by U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and representative of the European Union, Japan and other major partners, that the region's development partners should respect the will of Pacific island countries. This involved taking concrete actions on issues of concern to them, such as trade, health, energy and climate change. "The thrust of China's policy toward the Pacific is to achieve peace, stability and development," Xinhua news agency quoted Cui as saying. "China has done many concrete things to support the economic and social development of Pacific island countries, always in light of the needs and interests of the countries concerned," he added.