PACIFIC CHINA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION
The Princess Royal, Her Royal Highness, Princess Salōte Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita Permanent
Patron and Board Chairperson
I. PREAMBLE
There has been a long history of far more than friendship between China and the Pacific. The cradle of the Pacific’s Polynesian ancestors, according to archaeology, linguistics, botany, and science, is to be found not in South America, but along the eastern coast of China.
3500 years ago, the common ancestor, the Austronesian, began a unique exploit in human history: the systematic settlement of the Pacific, the world’s largest ocean: 160 million square kilometres, 20,000 kilometres wide at the equator, covering an area double that of the Atlantic.
This was also the first technology-based migration: those ancestors constructed ocean-going outrigger sailing canoes and applied sophisticated knowledge of the environment: the ocean, celestial navigation, fishing, and food processing.
This document represents the collective vision of many Pacific nations, desiring to live, work and thrive in the Pacific region.
II. REGIONAL CONTEXT
The Pacific China Friendship Association (PCFA) is an umbrella organisation for China Friendship Associations in the Pacific, which promote friendship and understanding between island nations and the People’s Republic of China.
PCFA wishes to be a key resource, bringing to Members goods and services which individually they would find difficult due to scale. In this, the organisation is grateful for the invaluable support and encouragement of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
Several phenomena at play in the Asia-Pacific region justify a proactive approach.
PCFA views the region as one of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, so all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.
PCFA envisions the BRI as central to international value chains and global trade flows. Its growing importance in global trade and investment makes the Pacific region a key player.
III. PCFA ORGANISATION
1. Who & What Is the PCFA?
∙ Founded in 2016, PCFA boasts 16 member-countries, with a 2-tiered approach: o regional, to better acknowledge our common challenges and opportunities, and o individual, to better recognise country-specific priorities.
∙ The PCFA is represented in: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (Yap), Fiji, French Polynesia, New Zealand/Māori, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Wallis & Futuna, and Hawaii (US Chapter) as a sister organization.
∙ The PCFA is a non-political, non-government organization (NGO), run by volunteers. To be a PCFA Member, a country must have a China Friendship Association, recognised by the CPAFFC.
∙ The PCFA’s primary objective is to help Pacific nations learn more about China – its past, its current achievements and challenges, and its on-going development. PCFA offers its members
insights on China, and helps Pacific Islanders develop a better understanding of China for relationships to be fostered between people of both regions.
∙ The PCFA advocates the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), working towards a promising future where all cultures are cherished, and Pacific-China relations can ensure a better future.
2. What PCFA Stands For
∙ To encourage the establishment of China Friendship Associations in the Pacific.
∙ To encourage a Pacific version of BRI, namely the Maritime Pearl Road, to enhance all fields of endeavor, growth, and harmony in the region.
∙ To promote friendship and understanding between all Members and China. ∙ To co-operate in projects of mutual interest: cultural, educational, economic.
∙ To disseminate information between present and future Members in matters of benefit or advantage to the Membership together or separately.
∙ To work to correct misunderstandings, inaccuracies and misleading information published about any Member and China.
∙ To provide information on undertakings or activities to promote people-to-people friendship, respect and understanding to all.
∙ To assert independence and endorse an independent Pacific without fear or favour. ∙ To ensure social, environmental, cultural and economic considerations in multilateral and bilateral development projects it advocates.