Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui has said China attaches great importance to its relationship with Pacific island countries.

The ultimate goal of China's Pacific island policy is the maintenance of the regional stability and the promotion of common development, he said.

He was addressing a meeting between the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum, the major inter-governmental organization to promote cooperation in the region, and its dialogue partners on Thursday.

He praised the progress PIF has made in regional cooperation and pursuit of common development.

He also briefed the Forum members on China's stand on conservation of resources, climate change, energy security and sustainable development.

Zhang said the Chinese government will continue to carry out a series of preferential policies in support of a more rapid development of island countries, which were announced by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Fiji, in April, 2006.

He said China is willing to strengthen the exchange and cooperation with all the island countries in an effort to further cement bilateral ties and contribute more to the prosperity and stability in the region.

At the meeting, Forum members spoke highly of the generous assistance China has provided to the region over the past many years and expressed the hope for a further enhanced cooperation with China.

PIF groups 16 member nations, namely Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)