20 Sep 2005

Vanuatu hosts delegation from China - Beijing ups aid

3:31 pm on 20 September 2005

Vanuatu has just hosted a high-level diplomatic delegation from China.

The delegation paid a courtesy call on the President, Kalkot Mataskelekele, on the way home from the independence celebrations in Papua New Guinea.

The 18-member delegation was led by the vice-chairman of the standing committee of the national people's congress, Xu Jialu.

Meanwhile, China has increased its aid to Vanuatu with the completion of two vessels which will service the southern and northern islands.

The government had asked for vessels that could carry passengers and farm produce to the markets in Port Vila and Luganville.