Photo: CFP

 
China's cooperation with Pacific Island countries will further expand as a center on climate change collaboration has been launched on Thursday. It is expected to enhance the exchanges and practical cooperation between the countries involved.

The unveiling ceremony of China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was held online on Thursday. The center is China's first multilateral cooperation platform in climate change, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).

The center is co-built by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MEE and East China's Shandong Province. 

At the ceremony, China and Kiribati signed a South-South cooperation project on climate change, under which China will provide material aids to Kiribati in order to help the island country to lift its capability to combat climate change.

Qiu Qiwen, vice minister of the MEE, said at the ceremony that China understands and respects the special concerns of Pacific Island countries on climate change, and supports the reasonable demands of Pacific Island countries in addressing the challenge.

Shandong announced to provide scholarships for international students from Pacific Island countries on climate change. Two cities of the province,  Qingdao and Liaocheng,  will provide donations to Kiribati, Shandong's Dazhong Daily reported Thursday.

Several cities in Shandong have become sister cities with cities in Pacific Island countries. Shandong is a sister province with Solomon Islands' Isabel Province.

Global Times