Fiji PM: China likely to collaborate on key port, shipyard project

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Wednesday the Pacific Islands nation was likely to collaborate with China on a key port modernisation and shipyard project, after discussing it in a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Fiji previously sought Australia’s involvement to build a modern ship-building facility at Lautoka, officials and a consultant to Rabuka on the project told Reuters.
China is the world’s largest shipbuilder, accounting for half of all ships built this year. The pace of expansion of its navy has concerned Australia, which has donated dozens of patrol boats to its Pacific Islands neighbours to boost surveillance of their territorial waters.
Rabuka told Fiji’s parliament on Wednesday his government was focused on upgrading infrastructure, “particularly the modernisation of port facilities and shipyards”.