From November to December, I traveled twice to Fiji to speak at an international academic conference on ocean governance and the blue economy, and to participate in a series of media events.

During these visits, I held extensive exchanges with Fijian officials, scholars, students and Chinese business representatives.

My visits confirmed that China's cooperation with Pacific island countries has moved beyond policy documents and taken root on the ground, producing tangible benefits welcomed by communities.

In Fiji, officials, scholars and community members repeatedly highlighted priorities such as sustainable fisheries management, youth skills training, youth employment and improving community living standards.

This practical focus forms the core of China-Pacific island cooperation: addressing immediate tasks while meeting the real needs of economic development and people's livelihoods.

Fiji's mainstream newspaper, The Fiji Sun, interviewed me and Professor Pal Ahluwalia, former vice chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, later running a striking headline: "China sees Pacific nations as brothers."

This was not mere rhetoric, but a genuine expression of how many Fijians perceive China's role in supporting their development.

The report quoted me as saying that China sees Pacific island countries as equal and mutually beneficial partners.

Through its Global Development Initiative, China is supporting projects across the Pacific islands in agriculture, healthcare, digital connectivity and climate change, improving productivity and living standards.

Fiji is a maritime nation with a vast exclusive economic zone and strong blue economy potential, but it also faces vulnerabilities stemming from climate change, illegal fishing and infrastructure gaps.

At an ocean governance seminar I attended, Fijian officials said they welcome China's participation because its projects are "practical, effective and sustainable."

This reflects the core principles of South-South cooperation: respect for national sovereignty, alignment with local development needs, shared construction and shared benefits.

At the China-Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Center on the outskirts of Nadi, Fiji's third largest city, a young technician told me, "With this technology, we don't need to cut down forests to earn a decent income."

This underscores a key principle of China's overseas development cooperation: economic development and ecological protection can proceed in tandem. Juncao technology ‒ a grass-based innovation originally developed in China to support mushroom cultivation, livestock feed and land restoration ‒ is more than a conventional agricultural aid project.

It illustrates how countries in the Global South can pursue development pathways that generate income and food security while simultaneously protecting and restoring the environment.

At the China Cultural Center in Fiji, innovative products from China, including AI glasses, translation earbuds, intelligent robots and exoskeleton devices, were showcased for local children and young people for the first time.

For many students, it was their first hands-on experience with the novel and human-centered appeal of Chinese technology.

They now see China not as an abstract idea, but as a land where they want to study, start businesses and seek opportunities.

One student said that smart technologies such as translation earbuds allowed her to communicate smoothly with Chinese teachers and classmates even without prior knowledge of the language, something she sees as essential to pursuing her dream of studying in China.

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Fiji.

Fijian scholars noted that China's rapid economic growth and technological advances offer a practical reference for Fiji and other Pacific island countries seeking industrial upgrading. China and Fiji have expanded cooperation beyond traditional areas into the blue economy, green energy, the digital economy and youth innovation.

As host of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Fiji is also becoming an important hub linking China with the broader Blue Pacific region.

Chinese companies operating in Fiji are increasingly emphasizing localization and community engagement.

They prioritize local hiring, skills training and participate in community projects, striving to work with Fiji, not just work in Fiji.

Their efforts include road upgrades, port support facilities, municipal infrastructure and public buildings.

These projects have improved transportation and public services while creating stable jobs and technical training opportunities for young Fijians, making Chinese enterprises an important part of the local development ecosystem.

At the entrance to the China Cultural Center, a panda sculpture adorned with a whale tooth necklace and traditional Fijian patterns symbolizes trust and shared sentiment across oceans. Beyond this symbolism, development cooperation between China and Pacific island countries directly affects local living standards, youth opportunities, community stability and ocean health.

(The author is a professor at East China Normal University and director of the Asia Pacific Studies Center. Translated by intern Du Rongqi and Lin Rui.)