China’s president Xi Jinping has praised
Kiribati for being “on the right side of history” after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in China on Monday. The agreement, which signs the Pacific nation up to China’s belt and road initiative, comes after Kiribati severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan and
established them with China in September last year. Xi met Kiribati’s president, Taneti Maamau, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and thanked him for visiting
China.
“Last September, China and Kiribati restored diplomatic relations based on the one-China principle and have ushered in a new chapter of bilateral cooperation,” said Xi, according to video of the meeting released by the Chinese state broadcaster CGTN. “We welcome Kiribati back to the big family of China-Pacific island cooperation.”
“Mr President and the Kiribati government stand on the right side of history,” Xi told Maamau, according to CGTN.
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