Nauru reaffirms unwavering commitment to one-China principle

Nauru remains steadfast in its adherence to the one-China principle, Lionel Aingimea, Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade affirmed on Monday after the inauguration of the country's embassy in Beijing.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Aingimea reaffirmed Nauru's recognition of China's sovereignty over all its territories, including Taiwan, and expressed hopes that other Pacific nations would embrace this principle.

"For us, the one-China principle is recognizing that the People's Republic of China is sovereign over all its territories, including Taiwan, the province of China. We believe that to be true. And I sincerely hope that our other Pacific brothers and sisters, who have not yet seen that that is the correct way to go, to recognize the one-China principle, and to realize that the sovereignty of the people to Republic of China over all its territories and its provinces is paramount, not just to recognizing that principle, but to their development also," said Aingimea.

Pragmatic cooperation has been one of the highlights of bilateral relations between China and Nauru over the past year, said Aingimea.

The two countries have conducted pragmatic and effective cooperation projects in the fields of education, culture, health and infrastructure, and the cooperation prospect for the two countries is bright, Aingimea said.

"To see you as a side-to-side brother, see you as a side-to-side friend, that you're walking together in the international arena, is very important. There are other countries that they see smaller countries, they look down on them. China does not. China treats me in the same way it treats every other single foreign minister. We also came from that, I suppose, the least developed, to now being an incredibly well-developed country. China has never forgotten that. That's how they see Nauru, and therefore when we go forward, we remember going forward with you, because we remember where we come from, we know where you are," said Aingimea.

Nauru resumed its diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one-China principle on Jan 24, 2024, becoming the 183rd country having diplomatic relations with China.

Nauru reaffirms unwavering commitment to one-China principle

China has continued to push forward the rural construction initiative this year, bringing steady improvements to rural production and day to day living conditions.

So far, the total mileage of rural roads across the country has reached 4.7 million kilometers.

In Songhui Village, Zanhuang County of north China's Hebei Province, local authorities have invested over 40 million yuan (about 5.96 million U.S. dollars) this year to upgrade 287,000 square meters of roads and install streetlights. A new road is currently under construction in the village.

"Once completed, the road will connect three nearby townships and 16 administrative villages, fundamentally improving travel for local farmers, the transport of agricultural produce, and the development of tourism," said Hao Longhai, a local construction official.

Villages in China have also focused on the needs of local specialty industries, targeting shortcomings in production-related infrastructure.

In Taihu County of east China's Anhui Province, where cattle farming is a major driver of villagers' incomes, local authorities have coordinated roughly 30 million yuan in rural development funds this year to advance a provincial-level breed conservation center and an organic fertilizer processing plant.

"Conditions have been improved significantly. What matters most is that my cattle pen can now connect to the province-wide remote monitoring system for livestock and poultry genetic resources, enabling work such as breed conservation, breeding, scientific research and disease prevention to be managed through an online platform," said Zhu Yong, head of a local breed conservation center.

Infrastructure for day to day living is also a key priority in rural development efforts this year.

As of the end of August, over 130 billion yuan in project funding had been secured for rural construction, and steady improvements have been made to village roads, water supply and drainage systems, sanitary toilet upgrades, household waste and sewage treatment and elderly care facilities.

Living, production conditions in China's rural areas continuously improved