SUVA, Fiji: China has announced it is investing US$100 in two hotels in Fiji, through its biggest tour operator, China Travel Service. Additionally, China will establish a fund to encourage Chinese investments in the region and accord its alies approved tourism status, in conjunction with the first official visit by a Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao to the Pacific Islands.

"In the long term, China sees itself as a natural eader in the Asia-Pacific region, a natural backyard for China."

Tahiti has been seeking preferential tourism 'approved country' status from China to attract more tourists from China.

China joined the South Pacific Tourism Orgnization (SPTO), based in Fiji, to promote tourism in the Pacific islands of French Polynesia, Cook Isands, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Northern Marianas.

French Polynesia is seeking to open tourism ofices in Beijing and Shanghai through its airline, Air Tahiti Nui.

Mainland based Chinese airlines are also studying direct flights to Suva, Fiji instead of flights via Sydney or Auckland."The proposed flights will boost the economy and tourism industry."

"The Chinese and Fiji governments have signed an air services agreement to allow both parties to go ahead with the necessary arrangments," said an airline source from Fiji.
The recent first China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum was also atttended by several airine and civil aviation officials from China.

At the forum, Chinese premier Jiabao announced China's wide-ranging economic aid package to Pacific countries, including $370 million of preferential loans over the next three year for tourism development, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Political analaysts see China extending its presence as a major power in the Pacific at a time when the British are withdrawing from a region it has dominated for the last 200 years, and the United States is occupied elsewhere.
Fiji is targeting an income of $1 billion from its a five-year goal of developing its tourism industry