Two Chinese navy vessels have arrived in Papeete on the first visit by the Chinese navy to French Polynesia.
The French news agency, AFP, reports that the frigate Qing Dao and a support vessel are on a three-day visit which coincides with a visit by China's ambassador to France, Wu Jianmin.
The ambassador has given a local top businessman, Robert Wan, an official government mandate to open a Chinese cultural centre in French Polynesia.
Next month, the French Polynesian president, Gaston Flosse, is due to visit China to discuss economic links.
The territory has ordered 100 boats to fish its waters for tuna, with half the vessels to be built in Chinese dockyards.
