Preface

“Pacific peoples are the custodians of the world's largest, most peaceful and abundant ocean, its many islands and its rich diversity of cultures. ”

This quote from the Pacific Islands Leaders is based on our region's vision to be a place of peace, harmony and prosperity. We invite you to share the experience.

Pacific Island Countries are located across the span of the world's largest ocean, like stars scattered in the blue tropical sea.

In the endless blue, islands born from volcanic seas erupt with unique ways of life and scenery, the turquoise seas and picture postcard islands evoke heaven on earth.

The Pacific Island Countries are made up of thousands of islands, belonging to three major archipelagos, namely Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Many islands are unbelievably remote. Some are thousands of kilometres away from the nearest continent and hundreds of kilometres from their nearest neighbour.

Human colonizers over thousands of years, inspired by waves, have turned the ocean that isolated them from the rest of the world into a centre of their culture.

Indeed, the Pacific Island Countries are not small islands, but giant ocean states. Though relatively small in population, they are rich in resources from the sea and from the land.

At the 2017 United Nations Oceans Conference in New York, world leaders committed to conserve and sustainably use our oceans and marine resources for sustainable development.

We therefore have an important challenge, to support development that will provide jobs and opportunities for the communities of the Pacific Islands, while also protecting the unique environment of the Pacific for the future.

It is the environment of the Pacific Islands that makes the region unique. It is the unique Pacific environment that provides the pure, quality products and that attracts visitors to enjoy beautiful and adventurous tourism.

The traditional friendships and cultural exchanges between Chinese and Pacific peoples have a long history. In the mid 19thCentury, some industrious and brave Chinese emigrated to the Pacific, making important contributions to the development of the region.

In recent years, Chinese Government and business cooperation has supported infrastructure and other important economic development in the Pacific Island Countries.

We are beginning to see growth in outbound Chinese tourists who are keen to explore unique destinations such as those of the Pacific.

More and more independent travelers are looking for unique experiences such as learning about different cultures, enjoying natural environments, sampling traditional food and recreational activities such as diving. The Pacific Islands have a diversity of traditional cultures, renowned pristine environments and unique destinations for diving, adventure tourism and relaxation.

The Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission works on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, the regional organization of the nations of Oceania, to support sustainable economic development for the Pacific Island Countries.

We are delighted to work with Chinese partners such as the Research Centre for Pacific Island Countries（RCPIC）at Liaocheng University to promote mutual understanding and friendship as well as cultural and economic communication between China and the Pacific Island Countries.

The publication of Travel in Pacific Island Countries by RCPIC will unveil the mystery of the Pacific for many new potential visitors. We hope that this book will bring these unique and precious islands into the hearts of Chinese tourists, promote the sustainable development of Pacific Island Countries and strengthen our international understanding.

David Morris

Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commissioner