China

The Samoan leader made the remarks while receiving credentials presented by Chinese Ambassador to Samoa Chao Xiaoliang who arrived here on March 29 this year.

Samoa continues to enjoy mutual benefits from the people-to-people exchanges and the close partnership with China in the development of many sectors of the island nation's economy including tourism, education, health, sports, agriculture, human resource development and infrastructure, he said.

A small whirlwind known as a dust devil tore the inflatable from the ground at a fairground in Yucheng county.

One parent reportedly told local media that she saw children fall from a height of about 20 metres (66ft).

A county government official told the South China Morning Post it was unclear whether "human factors" played a role.

Local authorities said 18 other children and two adults were taken to hospital. One child was in a serious condition while the rest were being treated for minor injuries.

The Pacific is Taiwan's last bastion of diplomatic support, with six nations in the region - Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu and Palau - recognizing Taipei rather than Beijing.

Taiwan donates large amounts of aid to these countries, and works hard to cultivate relationships with their political leaders.

But China is intent on prising off Taiwan's remaining allies around the globe.

The ABC reports Pacific officials lobbied by China asked not to be identified because they did not want to damage diplomatic ties with Beijing.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Samoa's Parliament Speaker Leaupepe Taimaaiono Toleafoa Faafisi spoke highly of the Belt and Road Initiative and thanked China for its support to the island nation's economic growth. 

"The Belt and Road Initiative is very good and we thank China for raising this initiative, which is to promote the global trade cooperation and especially good for the South Pacific island countries like Samoa," the parliament speaker said. 

In a statement, the airline said: “Air Niugini is committed to ensuring the highest quality, on time service to all passengers and will continuously review its business to improve efficiencies.

“Our partners and the airline have invested heavily in setting up operations to achieve our goal of opening the Chinese market to Papua New Guinea. It is our desire to complete this venture at the earliest possible opportunity. 

So says Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who then acknowledged the importance of the Pacific Ocean and its link to Pacific Island communities.

“The Pacific Ocean contains the largest amount of fish and it’s not contaminated hence the reason the USA is prioritising the Pacific Islands." 

“That is the same for the Government of China. Its population is a billion and 400 million, also their products are very cheap and top quality and they continue to grow economically, hence why the future of the world lies with China and the Asia Pacific,” he said.

During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi voiced his appreciation for Tuilaepa's contribution to the development of China-Samoa ties. The Samoan prime minister is in China to attend the forthcoming Summer Davos Forum in the coastal city of Tianjin.

"Samoa was one of the first Pacific island countries that established diplomatic relations with China," Xi said, noting that the Chinese side cherishes the traditional friendship with Samoa and appreciates the country's firm and long-lasting adherence to the one-China principle.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Samoan counterpart Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Beijing on Tuesday.

Tuilaepa was in the country for the Summer Davos Forum in Northern China.

During talks with Mr Xi, he reiterated Samoa's support for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Samoa Observer reports that Winston Peters made the suggestion during an exclusive interview at the recent Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Samoa.

Mr Peters said the level of debts that Pacific Island nations owed to the Chinese government should be addressed at the leadership level.

Last week, Tonga Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva cautioned Pacific Island nations to "slow down" asking China for loans.

He referred to the experiences of his own country, which owes the Chinese government $US160 million.

China's ambassador to Samoa Wang Xuefeng said the lack of direct flights is a major obstacle in getting Chinese tourists to the country.

Mr Wang told people attending a China tourism workshop in Samoa there's a legal guarantee of direct flights under an agreement signed between the two countries.

"While time is not yet mature to have the direct flights immediately, we may try to start with chartered flights," he said.