This handover picture launched by the Vanuatu Prime Minister’s Ministry on July 2, 2024 exhibits Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai (proper) receiving a key from Hu Chunhua, vice chairman of the 14th Nationwide Committee of the Chinese language Folks’s Political Consultative Convention, throughout an official ceremony at hand over the brand new presidential palace to the Vanuatu authorities. The Chinese language embassy stated the challenge had gifted Vanuatu with “one other iconic constructing” whereas symbolizing a brand new “milestone” of their more and more heat relationship. | Photograph credit score: AFP
Vanuatu’s economically troubled authorities will quickly transfer right into a set of latest buildings financed by China, a transfer more likely to reignite considerations about Beijing’s attain within the South Pacific nation.
At an official handover ceremony held in entrance of a towering China Assist billboard, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai introduced the opening of the nation’s large new presidential palace.
The challenge additionally included the development of a brand new Ministry of Finance and renovations to Vanuatu’s Division of Overseas Affairs, the Chinese language embassy stated in a press release launched on Tuesday.
Australia’s Lowy Institute assume tank estimated China had spent greater than $21 million on building, a major sum for an support challenge in a creating nation of fewer than 300,000 individuals.
The Chinese language embassy stated the challenge had gifted Vanuatu with “one other landmark constructing” whereas symbolising a brand new “milestone” of their more and more heat relationship.
A Chinese language delegation offered Salwai with a novel, outsized golden key (additionally emblazoned with the phrase “China Assist”), kicking off a festive opening ceremony replete with Chinese language dragon dancers and the brewing of the ceremonial drink kava.
Native media reported that lots of of civil servants would work, rent-free, inside the brand new buildings.
China is “dedicated to creating pleasant cooperation with Pacific island international locations,” together with Vanuatu, Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning informed reporters in Beijing.
Vanuatu is closely indebted to China: about 40 p.c of its exterior debt is owed to China’s Exim financial institution, in line with the Lowy Institute.
China has funded a collection of main infrastructure upgrades throughout the archipelago as a part of an escalating wrestle for affect pitting Beijing towards its Western rivals.
Beijing’s ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang, has stated that China is prepared and keen to “step up pragmatic cooperation on this discipline.”
However there are fears that Vanuatu and different Pacific states resembling Tonga and the Solomon Islands are more and more weak to what critics have described as China’s “debt lure diplomacy”.