China has a lot to offer to Samoa and other small island nations in transition to clean energy and infrastructure, according to Luamanuvae Albert Mariner, Samoa’s ambassador to China, and the anti-China narrative peddled by some media is unfortunate and wrong.
“China’s leadership in clean energy development and a potential partnership between its enterprises, such as China, and Samoa and other small island states would go a long way to address the climate crisis and save our planet,” Mariner told China Daily in an exclusive interview.
The international community has shown great admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ideas on environment and sustainable growth, the envoy said. China has taken the lead in green energy and clean energy transition, he noted, adding that there is a real opportunity for China to play a global leadership role in the renewable energy sector.
China today has more than 80 percent of the world’s solar manufacturing capacity. The impressive scale of China’s renewables sector output has driven down solar panel prices worldwide, and has reduced the cost-barrier to developing countries in accessing the relevant technology and expertise to advance the transition to clean energy, Mariner said.
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On tackling climate change, Mariner emphasized that “now more than ever, the world needs political (partnerships) … to resolve the crisis that we face”. Large economies have to find a way, as politics, at the end of the day, is at the heart of the climate change negotiations, he said.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, even if the 30-plus small island states in the Pacific region fully transit 100 percent to renewables, the impact will remain limited, Mariner said, adding that it is the big economies of the world that must really need to find a way to reduce their emissions.
China recognizes the context of small island countries’ developmental aspirations, because “at the end of the day, these are countries that have nothing to do with climate change, and yet they're right at the forefront facing constant challenges and the impacts of climate change,” Mariner said.
Speaking about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, the ambassador said the program is critical as every country needs infrastructure development. The focus now is on sustainability built into the infrastructure, which holds key to any country’s development, he said.
“So, what China has offered is very critical for development,” Mariner said, citing the example of Samoa which perhaps has one of the best international airports among small Pacific island nations, after the facility was built with help from China.
Mariner noted that a country receiving BRI assistance is always certain that China is providing what their country truly needs. “BRI is a process and opportunity that allows ongoing conversations between China and the recipient countries,” he said.
Samoa and China enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership that was formalized during President Xi’s visit to the Pacific in 2018.
Next year, China will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Samoa, Mariner noted
And historically, “Chinese started coming to Samoa in the late 1800s,” he said.
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China is a big country with diverse, multicultural development, and it also has a very fascinating, unique history, the envoy said. “The more I read about China's history, the greater I understand and appreciate China's complexity.”
“China’s … success in eliminating extreme poverty is a remarkable achievement,” the envoy said.
The Pacific, where Samoa was the first small-island country in the region to gain independence, is often at the heart of geopolitics in some ways, Mariner noted. In today’s world, apart from geopolitical tensions, there is also a battle of narratives, he said.
“One is the narrative from the Western media that is very anti-China, which is biased, and another narrative (is of people like himself) who come to China and realize that this narrative peddled by some of the (Western) mainstream media is so unfortunate and wrong,” the envoy said, adding that China wants to be understood and respected.
He also said China places peace and stability as important prerequisite to its national economic development programs. “It continues to pursue, where possible, peace mediation efforts in some of the most difficult global conflicts in the world and remains one of the biggest contributors to the UN peacekeeping fund,” he noted.
“China's global leadership in resolving critical challenges the world faces, such as the climate crisis, will remain very important in the years ahead.”
