The Government of China is handing over its annual contribution of US$200,000 (T$549,878) to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.) operations budget on Thursday.

In line with President Xi Jinping’s increased contributions to the Pacific Island’s flight against climate change, the annual donations that began in 1998 increased in 2017.

The Chinese Government’s assistance will be presented to S.P.R.E.P Director General, Leota Kosi Latu, by the Chinese Ambassador to Samoa Chao Xiaoliang at the brand new Pacific Climate Change Centre.

S.P.R.E.P has delivered several projects funded by China, and in 2018 the nation helped get them to the United Nations conference on climate change in Poland.

China has funded programme activities on oceanography, regional partnerships and knowledge management, and communications and outreach.

The funding also helped the programme upgrade funding accreditation with the Green Climate Fund. Now, S.P.R.E.P can apply for grants of up to US$250 million – though they are in no rush to do so just yet, Leota has said.