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Establishing a mid-point location to facilitate the exchange of traded goods between China and Fiji can be a way to overcome the tyranny of distance between them, a Chinese business official said.
Liu Meikun, Vice President of the China Chamber of Commerce for imports & export of machinery and electronic products said while it was true that distance would be a challenge in trade relations between the two countries, there were ways to try and overcome this.
“I’m not the expert in transportation but as far as I know, the cost for transportation over a long way can partially be overcome by the management of goods packaging," Liu told FijiLive.
“And of course, if we strengthen the cooperation in the transportation industry, we can establish an intersection point for the exchange of goods, which can increase efficiency,” he said.
“I think one of the prospects, if we want to overcome the shortcomings in distance, is also to strengthen the ties between enterprises of the two countries,” Liu said.
Fiji, under the Voreqe Bainimarama leadership, is actively pursuing closer trade and bilateral ties with China but a distance of over 5000 miles is said to pose a challenge in the transportation of traded goods between them.
Fiji’s major trading partners are Australia and New Zealand, respectively located at some 2000 and 1300 miles away.
Last week, Fiji hosted a delegation of 50 Chinese entrepreneurs and 10 government officials, as part of the two countries’ efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
At the workshop, Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau chief executive officer Annie Rogers had told FijiLive that the distance between China and Fiji would be a challenge in trade between the two countries.
