Pacific looks to improve links with Asian economies

Pacific economic ministers meeting in Suva have been looking at how the region can better engage with the growing Asian economies.

The ministers, from Pacific Islands Forum member countries, have been discussing issues critical to improving development in the Pacific.

One of these is to work out how to make use of the wealth they have within the region to help finance development.

The concept of a regional finance facility has been floated for the past two years but a firm decision is yet to be made.

And the Forum's trade commissioner to China, David Morris, said there had been a lot of discussion on the need to engage with China and other key Asian economies.

"How we as a region should be approaching the rise of the Asian economies, their increasing importance in the global economy and their increasing capacity to help us to develop the Pacific region."