China furnishes Fiji with 20 Hongqi official cars

China furnished Fiji with 20 Hongqi (red flag) official cars on Friday, in a bid to further strengthen bilateral ties as the South Pacific island country was preparing for general elections next year.

On the handover ceremony, Huang Yong, Chinese ambassador to Fiji, said the provision of the vehicles is another symbol of friendship between the two countries which is a follow-up of former National Congress of China Chairman Wu Bangguo's visit to Fiji last year.

"The Hongqi vehicles are produced by China First Automobile Works (FAW), the leading pioneer of China's automobile industry. It is self-innovated, developed and manufactured by China. The protocol VIP vehicle for the visiting French President Mr. ( Francois) Hollande a week ago is Hongqi. It shows our confidence in the quality and technology of Hongqi vehicles," said Huang.

"It demonstrates China's path of development based on independence and self-reliance. Now, Fiji is progressing on the same road towards prosperity. I believe, with the unremitting efforts of the people and government, Fiji will make more and more remarkable achievements in the historical undertaking of 'building a better Fiji'," he added.

Receiving the vehicles, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the event demonstrated the strong cooperation shared between Fiji and China.

"These vehicles are realistic examples like others in the past comprising of 32 pieces of heavy machineries and equipment and the 36-meter Fisheries Research Vessel provided by the government of the People's Republic of China, all for the purpose of enhancing Fiji's economic development," said Bainimarama.

The head of government also thanked the technical team from China for coming to Fiji to assist in the installation assistance and training of local drivers and technicians. Meanwhile, Bainimarama said it was an opportunity for him to reaffirm his government's commitment to offer any form of assistance to China and to further strengthen its technical cooperation and friendship.

At the end of the ceremony, Bainimarama, showing great interest, entered one of the Hongqi cars and performed a test drive with the assistance of a Chinese technician, a Xinhua correspondent witnessed.

Fiji established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China in 1975, becoming the first South Pacific island country to do so.