On November 25th, 2021, the handover ceremony for a cash donation by China to assist the FSM’s response to COVID-19 pandemic was held at the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs. On behalf of the Chinese government and the FSM government respectively, H.E. Huang Zheng, Chinese Ambassador to the FSM, and T.H. Marcus Samo, FSM Secretary of Health & Social Affairs and Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force, signed the handover certificate. Mr. Ricky Cantero, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs，Mr. Brendy Carl, Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Moses E. Pretrick, Assistant Secretary of Health & Social Affairs, among others, attended the ceremony.

In his remarks, Ambassador Huang pointed out that this donation, which is carried out in the form of further funding the China-Pacific Islands Countries Cooperation Fund against COVID-19, is  China’s latest move to implement the significant consensus between Chinese President Xi Jinping and FSM President David Panuelo reached during President Panuelo’s historic state visit to China in December, 2019, and the important outcomes of the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in October, 2021.

Ambassador Huang briefed the attendees on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its important outcomes. Ambassador Huang emphasized that, the plenum stresses that the CPC has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation.

Ambassador Huang stressed that, the plenum has far-reaching significance. Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Chinese people will score more glorious achievements on the new journey that lies before us in the new era. China will continue the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become an irreversible historical process. China will always stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress. It will always be a defender of world peace, a contributor to global development,an upholder of international order and a provider of public goods. All these will provide a lasting and robust driving force for the in-depth development of China-FSM Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and help it scale new heights, to which today’s cash donation from China to the FSM for pandemic response is a vivid testament. 

Ambassador Huang said that, in the face of flare-ups and spreading of COVID-19 around the globe, China will vigorously implement Xi Jinping Thoughts on Diplomacy, and actively promote international anti-epidemic cooperation. By providing assistance for FSM’s resumption of work and production and economic recovery, China stands ready to work with the FSM side to vanquish the pandemic hand in hand, and thus make new and greater contributions to jointly advancing the building of a  Community with a Shared Future for Humanity and bringing more benefits to the two peoples. 

Secretary Samo, in his remarks, extended sincere appreciation for China’s long-term selfless assistance in FSM’s economic and social development. He said that in the bilateral  cooperation against COVID-19, China has provided much-needed cash donations, medical supplies and technical support. The help from China has played a key role in FSM’s efforts to build up a pandemic response system from scratch and keep the country COVID-19 free. Besides thanking China for this cash donation, Secretary Samo emphasized that the FSM cherishes its “Great Friendship” with China since the two countries established diplomatic relations 32 years ago. He said that the FSM government will firmly abide by the One-China Principle as always, step up anti-epidemic and practical cooperation in various fields with China, and advance the China-FSM “Great Friendship” as well as the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making new contributions to the building of a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity. 

The handover ceremony was positively reported by FSM Office of the President, the Office’s Facebook account and local media.