China has handed over a massive newly-built presidential palace to Vanuatu days before the Pacific nation's prime minister is expected to visit Beijing.
China has donated a sprawling new presidential palace, estimated to cost $31 million, to Vanuatu in a ceremony this week.
Yet some experts have already raised concerns over Vanuatu's ability to maintain the building, while questioning the motivations behind China's large infrastructure aid projects in the Pacific region.The handover of the large palace complex in the capital also came ahead of the release of Vanuatu's foreign policy white paper on Wednesday, local time, reaffirming its staunch "non-aligned" status in a region increasingly contested by great powers.
China is "committed to developing friendly cooperation with Pacific island countries", including Vanuatu, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.Vanuatu's Finance Minister John Salong praised the project, saying it would house public servants currently scattered in spaces across Port Vila, and would allow the government to save huge sums of money which it currently spent on rent.
Charlot Salwai , Nikenike Vurobaravu and Vanuatu and Chinese officials at the handover of the new presidential palace.However Dr Newton Cain said the Pacific Island nation maintained a non-aligned status, summarised in its foreign policy saying "friends to all, enemies to none" and emphasised in its new foreign policy paper.
A procession at the start of the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting in Port Vila, at the National Convention Centre last year.
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