APIA, 28 OCTOBER 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER)—The implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is key to progressing a “programme of action” by the 10 Pacific Island countries, that recently attended the 3rd China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Samoa. The BRI, which is the Chinese government’s global development strategy, was formally […]
Tag: Pacific
Posted inPacific News
Remains identified of World War II Marine who died at Tarawa Atoll
PHILADELPHIA, 24 OCTOBER 2019 (AP) — The U.S government says the remains of a Marine who died in a Pacific island battle during World War II have been identified as a 23-year-old Philadelphia man. The Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency says the remains of Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Joseph F. Boschetti were accounted for on 08 […]
Posted inOpinion
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
SYDNEY, 23 OCTOBER 2019 (THE INTERPRETER/Pacnews) — “Debt trap” diplomacy has been a recurrent rallying cry for critics of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its overseas infrastructure lending activities. Over the past two years, this debate has taken centre stage in the Pacific, with China accused of drowning these tiny economies in unsustainable […]
Posted inBillboard
The Future of Asia-Pacific’s Cities
UN Forum opens with call for decisive action in cities to deliver on SDG targets Penang, Malaysia (ESCAP news) — The Seventh Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-7) opened with a strong call for cities to take the lead and embrace a “can do” spirit in driving sustainable development commitments across the region. The Asia-Pacific region became […]
Posted inOpinion
On the brink of a crisis financing development in Pacific SIDS due for a drastic re-think
By Matthew Johnson-Idan, Development Economist, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, Bram Peters, Programme Manager – Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme, UNCDF and Sanjesh Naidu, Economic Adviser, UNESCAP Pacific Office SUVA, 11 OCTOBER 2019 (UNDP/UNCDF/UNESCAP) — Climate change has created unprecedented development challenges for Pacific SIDS. Thinking about the cost of increasing frequency and severity of climate-related […]
Posted inOpinion
The underappreciated value of Japanese aid in the Pacific
Japan has made a significant contribution to regional development, especially in managing lucrative fish stocks SYDNEY, 11 OCTOBER 2019 (THE INTERPRETER) — In the varied debates about influence in the Pacific, rarely does Japan’s position in the region feature prominently. On the off chance that Japan’s presence in the Pacific is discussed, its “aid diplomacy” […]