by Jiang Yaping, Cao Yang

CAIRNS, Australia, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Vatuatu Prime Minister Edward Nipake Natapei said here on Friday that his country welcomes Chinese investment and he wished to see more Chinese investment as well as Chinese tourists to Vanuatu.
Speaking to Xinhua reporters in an exclusive interview while attending the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in this northeastern city of Australia, Natapei said the current relations between China and Vanuatu was "one of the best in the Pacific region".
"We have been long time friends to each other. Vatuatu maintains the one-China policy and we have so many high level visits between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in March of 1982. We also hope to continue close contacts with China in all aspects."
Talking about the current bilateral economic ties, the prime minister, who has visited China three times, said the development was going on well and the two countries were working on several joint projects, including fishery and agriculture.
"We hope China can look at the possibility of increasing numbers of fights between the two countries and increasing Chinese tourists to Vatuatu. We are still working on that with the Chinese side. You know, we are in the southern hemisphere which has opposite seasons of China. If there are many tourists going to Australia, why don't they also come to Vatuatu which has beautiful long coast and pleasant whether?"
Natapei said as the next forum host country, he would try his best to push forward the resolution on climate change and regional economic cooperation. He was also ready to bring reconciliation between Fiji's military government and the religious groups to pave the way for general election in the country. He also to see the early return of Fiji to the Pacific Islands Forum.
Fiji was suspended of the membership of the Pacific Islands Forum in early May because the military government refused to hold a general elections demanded by the Forum leaders last year.