China, Nauru Photo: VCG

As Nauru announced Monday that it will recognize the one-China principle and sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, experts noted that Nauru has seen win-win results of cooperation between China and South Pacific island nations, and China and Nauru will accelerate cooperation in agriculture and infrastructure fields.

In a post on Facebook, the government of Nauru said on Monday that it will follow UN Resolution 2758, which recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and recognize Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

"China appreciates and welcomes the decision of the government of the Republic of Nauru. The Nauru government's decision of reestablishing diplomatic ties with China once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends," China's Foreign Ministry said.

China stands ready to work with Nauru to open new chapters of our bilateral relations on the basis of one-China principle, the ministry added.

Nauru has seen win-win results and mutual respect of the cooperation between China and South Pacific island nations, Chen Hong, executive director of Asia Pacific Studies Centre in East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

"In addition to the phosphate mines that Nauru is rich in, Nauru, like other island nations, has a wealth of natural resources, such as fisheries and agriculture," Chen noted.

The website of China's Foreign Ministry showed that Nauru's agricultural products mainly include coconuts, bananas and pineapples. Fishery resources especially tuna are relatively rich. The country mainly exports phosphates and imports food, home appliances, daily necessities, hardware and building materials.

Nauru had previously developed through phosphate mining, but that was not a long-term solution. Resource management and sustainable development were the island's top development priorities, Rong Ying, a senior research fellow from China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

China has rich experience in natural resource exploration, disaster prevention and mitigation as well as sustainable development, so ramping up cooperation will be mutually beneficial, Rong said.

Total trade volume between China and Nauru during the first 11 months in 2023 reached approximately $5.49 million, which included $5.49 million of export, and import value of $3000, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

The Juncao project, which has been very successful throughout the South Pacific islands, could also potentially be located on Nauru, Chen said, adding that China can help Nauru to further improve its business environment, and assist to build up infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Nauru's future cooperation with China will provide new channels and avenues for the island country's future development in the international community and opens up a broader space for development," Rong said.