China Coast Guard conducts patrol in territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao

The China Coast Guard (CCG) task group led by CCGS Xiamen on Saturday conducted a patrol in China's territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands, the CCG said in a statement.

The patrol was a rights-protection operation carried out by the CCG in accordance with the law, the statement said.

The sixth China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue was held in Beijing on Saturday, where political figures from China and Pacific island countries held in-depth discussions on deepening practical cooperation across various fields and building a China-Pacific island Countries community with a shared future.

Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China and Pacific island countries have always adhered to mutual respect and equal treatment though they differ in natural endowments, history, culture, and social systems.

China never interferes in the internal affairs of Pacific Island countries, nor does it ever treat them as an arena for major power competition. China also highly appreciates that Pacific island countries having diplomatic relations with China firmly abide by the one-China principle and support China's just position, Liu said.

The CPC is willing to work with political parties and leaders of Pacific island countries to contribute more party strength to building a China-Pacific Island Countries community with a shared future, he said.

Leaders of political parties from Pacific island countries said China is a good friend and good partner to them, and that bilateral relations have been continuously consolidated and developed based on mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutually beneficial cooperation.

They expressed their willingness to continue strengthening cooperation with China in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, disaster reduction and capacity building, and to further deepen their friendship with China.

"We appreciate the willingness of our host to hear our specific priorities. This dialogue is an opportunity to deepen that understanding and explore practical ways in which cooperation can improve lives of our people," said Viliami Uasike Latu, Tongan deputy prime minister.

"China wants to see Pacific island countries prosper into economic development, real development, real changes to affect the livelihood of people in the Pacific. That's basically my understanding. I see that they're not for geopolitics," said Morris Tovebae, general secretary of the Pangu Party in Papua New Guinea.