Pacific debts

Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva made the suggestion in an interview with Samoa Observer at the recent Forum Foreign Ministers meeting at Taumeasina Island Resort in Apia.

Tuilaepa said, last week, that the idea was not new but it had consequences that would impact on future low interest loans from bigger countries.

Asking for loans to be written off would also paint a bad picture of a country, he said.

This issue had always been one of the topics discussed at forums like the Commonwealth Heads of Government and at the United Nations, Tuilaepa said.

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.