Vanuatu

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The friendly relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Vanuatu continued to grow in 2013.

The two sides had close high-level exchanges. In September, Vanuatuan Prime Minister Moana Carcasses attended the first China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, Ningxia and met with CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng. In November, Prime Minister Carcasses attended the second China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Guangzhou and met with Vice Premier Wang Yang. China's Minister of Culture Cai Wu, Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan and Director General Qian Lihua of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of Defense visited Vanuatu. In September, Li Qiangmin, Special Envoy for China-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue, met with Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Edward Natapei when attending the 25th Post Forum Dialogue of the Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands.

Economic and trade cooperation was deepened and people-to-people and cultural exchanges expanded. With Chinese assistance, the Extension of USP Emalus Campus was completed and the construction of National Convention Center started. A friendship delegation and a medical team of Guangdong Province visited Vanuatu. Chongqing Art Troupe staged performances in Vanuatu.