On July 25, President Wesley W. Simina received President Xi Jinping’s special envoy to the FSM’s Joint inauguration celebration – Tang Renjian, minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Simina also “conveyed appreciation for the resumption and considerations of delayed and pending projects such as the National Convention Center, Renovation of the Pohnpei Administration Building, Chuuk Road Project, and the purchase of a second Y-12 aircraft,” according to a July 28 release from the Office of the President.
Tang also made the following announcements: “The resumption of various projects that were delayed due to covid-19, an upcoming visit to the FSM by acrobatic troupes from Shandong and Guangdong province to come to the FSM soon to promote cultural exchanges, as well as resumption of programs from Guangdong province which include [a] medical doctor program to resume in the FSM. China’s scholarship program and trainings will also resume and welcome more FSM students and technicians to utilize the capacity building opportunities provided by China.”
According to the release, the Zhongshan district of Guangdong province is ready to build five speed boats for Chuuk state to facilitate transportation. The envoy also announced his government’s support of another economic and technical cooperation agreement to be signed, for projects to be later determined by the two governments, in the value of 30 million RMB 9$4.2 million). He also announced that China is making special arrangements to provide another $2 million cash contribution into the FSM Trust Fund.
In other FSM news, United Airlines will add a Saturday weekly flight from Aug. 5 and a Sunday weekly flight from Aug. 6 between Guam and Yap, according to the Yap Visitors Bureau.
Yap’s Mantafest and BlackwaterFest dive photography events will run from Aug. 26 to Sept. 24, the bureau said. mbj
A regional tropical cyclone formation alert has been issued as a developing weather disturbance northwest of Yap threatens to strengthen the seasonal monsoon across western Micronesia and the Mariana Islands.
Meteorologists warn that catastrophic winds from Super Typhoon Bavi are bearing down on Rota, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an extreme wind warning early Monday. The NWS issues such alerts when sustained winds of 120 mph or more are expected.
With Super Typhoon Bavi now packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and forecast to strengthen further as it moves toward the Marianas, emergency officials are urging businesses and residents to treat this weekend as their critical window to prepare for potentially damaging winds.
