27 Aug 2014

China to help Vanuatu with airport development

6:25 am on 27 August 2014

Vanuatu's Prime Minister says China has signalled its readiness to help Vanuatu with a major upgrade of Bauerfield Airport in Port Vila.

Joe Natuman says China's President, Xi Jinping, has confirmed it will help Vanuatu with a number of projects including the airport, which is in urgent need of repair.

This comes after the Vanuatu parliament scrapped a controversial plan for airport developments, which involved a 350 million US dollar contract with Singapore-based company, Vanuatu Trade Development Limited.

Mr Natuman says China has also confirmed it will assist with the building and repair of the wharf on Santo and the stadium at Korman in preparation for Vanuatu to host the mini Games in 2017.