CAPTION: Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Huang Yong officially hands over the car documents to Prime Minister Bainimarama. Photos: MINFO.
The arrival of 20 protocol vehicles valued at FJD$4 million from the Peoples Republic of China is a timely donation as Fiji prepares to host the upcoming high level G77+China Group meeting next week.
This was pointed out by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as he officially received the new fleet of vehicles. At the handing over ceremony, he said that today’s event demonstrated the strong cooperation shared between Fiji and the People’s Republic of China.
“These vehicles are realistic examples like others in the past comprising of 32 pieces of heavy machineries and equipment and the 36 meter Fisheries Research Vessel provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, all for the purpose of enhancing Fiji’s economic development,” PM Bainimarama said.
“I have been informed that the vehicles carry the very latest technology with a total cost of $12million RMB”.
The head of government also thanked the Technical Team from China for coming to Fiji to assist in the installation assistance and training of local drivers and technicians. At the same time, it was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to reaffirm government’s commitment to offer any form of assistance to the People’s Republic of China and to further strengthen its Technical Cooperation and friendship.
The People’s Republic of China to Fiji Ambassador, Mr Huang Yong said that the provision of the HongQi vehicles is another symbol of friendship between the two countries which is a follow up of former National Congress of China chairman, Mr Wu Bangguo’s visit to Fiji last year.
“I am proud to know that these cars will be fully utilised in the future, first being used as protocol vehicles in the G77 meeting and then distributed to different ministries,” Ambassador Huang said.
The HongQi vehicles are produced by China First Automobile Works (FAW), the leading pioneer of China’s automotive industry, self-innovated, developed and manufactured by China.
HongQi, a sub-brand of Chinese automaker FAW, was created in the 1950s to build cars for leaders of the nation.
