The Chinese government has given $850,000 to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat which will go towards several projects for Forum member countries.

The Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Dr Han Zhiqiang, while handing the money to the Forum's General Secretary Tuiloma Slade in Fiji, commented that the funding will strengthen trade relations between China and the Pacific Island countries through financial support to the Forum's Trade Office in Beijing.

He said that what China has done, what it is doing and what they are going to achieve is to promote the friendly relationship and mutual-beneficial cooperation between China and the Secretariat.