There is a splendid sight that always impresses the people of the ten Pacific states that have signed up to the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the sight of the hard-working Chinese workers who work with great dedication building our Pacific roads, bridges, sports stadiums, civic centres, schools and many other kinds of infrastructure. Builders work at the construction site of Davuilevu residential project in Suva, Fiji, Oct.
In the hot blistering sun, the cold wind or pounding rain, the Chinese workers work humbly without complaining. It can be lonely work with a lot of hardship. We want them to know that we have great affection for them because we appreciate that they are working so very far away from their families and loved ones.
Their hard work is very deeply appreciated by Pacific islanders. It is a reflection of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people and the symbiotic relationship with the Communist Party of China CPC that they can help Pacific nations in their sustainable development goals through the Belt and Road Initiative. I know that it can sometimes be tedious because many times we read stories from the Western media and the reports seem to always be negative about the BRI.
The swift CPC boat is delivering great infrastructure projects in the Pacific and helping us to meet our sustainable development goals. The old bridge had been deteriorating for six years and could not be used. Fiji, however, did not have the money to build a new bridge. Many vendors, tourists and local people were inconvenienced and traffic jams were a huge problem.
The construction of the bridge and also the Vatuwaqa Bridge had been made possible through a very generous grant provided by the Chinese government through the Belt and Road Initiative BRI. Fiji was the first Pacific Island nation to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, having done so in Other amenities provided as a gift from China include a meter-bymeter multi-purpose hall, a 5-aside competitive hockey field and a two-story building housing a food court and office space.
