About Vanuatu

[Country Name] The Republic of Vanuatu.

[Area] The land area is 12,200 square kilometers, and the area of the marine exclusive economic zone is 680,000 square kilometers. There are a total of 82 islands.

[Population] 285,000 (2018). 98% of them are Vanuatu and belong to Melanesian, the rest are French, British, Chinese and Vietnamese, Polynesian immigrants and some other nearby islanders. There are about 600 overseas Chinese. The official languages are English, French, and Bislama. Common Bislama. 84% believe in Christianity.

[Head of State] President Tallis Obed Moses (Tallis Obed Moses), took office in July 2017.

[Important Festival] Independence Day: July 30.

[Brief introduction] It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It belongs to the Melanesian Islands and consists of 82 islands (of which 68 are inhabited). The largest island of Santo (also known as San Esperito) covers an area of 3,947 square kilometers. A tropical marine climate.

Thousands of years ago, the Vanuatu people lived here. Discovered by Spanish explorers in 1606. The French arrived here in 1768. Captain Cook arrived here in 1774 and named the place "New Hebrides." In October 1906, the British and French signed the covenant convention, and the place became a British and French co-operative colony. In 1963, the indigenous people established the first political party, the Village Party, to demand land resumption and independence. Internal autonomy was implemented in January 1978. Independence on July 30, 1980. Walter Lini, the leader of the New Hebrides (later renamed the Vanuacu Party), became the first prime minister, and Sokomanu became president.

[Politics] In October 2015, 14 MPs including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Speaker, and multiple Cabinet Ministers were sentenced to jail and disqualified for bribery. Prime Minister Kilman failed to reach agreement with the opposition on a coalition government. President Lancedale announced his dissolution of parliament on November 25 and a general election ahead of schedule on January 22, 2016. On February 11, the multi-party coalition "Unity and Change Front", composed of the Waku Party, the United Movement Reform Party, the National United Party, and the Land Justice Party, obtained the right to form a cabinet. Salwai) was elected Prime Minister of the new government of Vanuatu.

[Constitutional Law] Enacted in 1979 and entered into force in 1980. The Constitution stipulates that the president is elected by an electoral college composed of the chairman of the parliament and local committees, and serves a term of five years. Legislative power is vested in Parliament and executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers. The general reason is that the parliament is elected and the Cabinet Minister is appointed by the Prime Minister. The Constitution stipulates that all land in Vanuatu is owned by indigenous people and their descendants, and October 5 is set to be Constitution Day.

[Parliament] One-council system with a total of 52 seats and a term of four years. Regular meetings are held twice a year. At the request of the majority, the Speaker or the Prime Minister, the Parliament may hold special sessions. The current parliament was elected in January 2016 and was formally established in February. The current speaker is Vaku member Esmon Saimon.

[Government] The cabinet is also called the Council of Ministers. The main members of the current cabinet are: Prime Minister Charlotte Salvi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Commerce Jotham Napat, Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Infrastructure With Christophe Emelee, Minister of Public Utilities, Gaetan Pikioune, Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Don Ken, Minister of Justice and Community Services, and Andrew Naper, Minister of Home Affairs Andrew Napuat, Minister of Lands, Geology and Natural Resources Alfred Maoh, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Fishery and Biosecurity Matai Seremaiah, Minister of Education Jean Pierre Nirua, Minister of Health Norris Kalmet, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geological Hazards, Environment and Energy Ham Lini , Youth Development, Training and Sports Minister Seoule Simeon.

[Administrative divisions] The country is divided into six provinces and two cities: Torba, Sanma, Panama, Malampa, Shefa and Tafia provinces; Port Vila and Luganville.

[Judiciary] There are an appellate court, a supreme court and a local court responsible for traditional affairs. Attorney General Arnold Loughman. The Chief Judge is nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President. The current Chief Justice, Vincent Lunabeck.

[Political Party] The main political parties are:

Vanuaaku Party: Originally a ruling coalition, joined the opposition party in June 2019. Formerly known as the New Hebrides National Party, established in 1971, it is the oldest party in Vanuatu. The current name was changed in 1977. The party has been in power until 1991 under the leadership of the late founding father Walter Lini since Vanuatu independence in 1980. In 1991, the Waku party split, and Walter Lini left to form the National United Party. In April 1999, the Waku Party and the Chinese Communist Party formally established inter-party relations. It was the first Pacific island country to establish inter-party relations with the Communist Party of China. Chairman Bob Lafman.

Reunification of Movement for Change: The governing coalition. Established in 2012. It was composed of Salvi, then Vice Chairman of the Moderate Party Alliance. In 2016, Salvi came to China to establish inter-party relations with the CCP during the CCP-World Dialogue. Chairman Charlotte Salvi.

National United Party: The ruling coalition. Founded in 1991 and composed of the late founding father Walter Lini leaving the Waku party. In March 2004, we formally established inter-party relations with the Communist Party of China. Chairman Ham Lini.

Land and Justice Party: The governing coalition. Founded in 2010. Declares respect for land and traditions, and considers chiefs, churches, women and children to be the four pillars of the Wa State, and to promote national development through the protection of its land and commerce. Chairman Ralph Regenvanu.

Leaders Party of Vanuatu: The governing coalition. Established in 2015. Founded by Napat the former Director General of Climate Change. The party held up anti-corruption flags and called for Vanuatu's sustainable economic, environmental and social development. Chairman Jotham Napat.

People's Progressive Party: The ruling coalition, with some members joining the opposition camp. Founded in 2001, it consists of Kilman's departure from the Melanesian Progressive Party. In 2005, the party officially established inter-party relations with the Chinese Communist Party. Chairman Sato Kilman.

Union of Moderate Parties: The ruling coalition, with some members joining the opposition camp. Founded in 1974, it is one of the most influential French-speaking parties in the country. In 1991, he was in power for the first time under the leadership of then chairman Maxim Coleman and continued until 1998. In 2001, formal inter-party relations were established with the Communist Party of China. Chairman Serge Warhol, the current leader of the opposition party is the party's leader and parliamentarian Ismail Karsakau.

[Important figures]

Talis Obed Moses: President. Born in Malampa, Vanuatu province in 1954, he graduated from the Theological Seminary of Sydney, Australia and the Talua Bible College of Vanuatu, with a diploma in theology. Since 1987, he has been engaged in the pastor work for a long time, and has a high reputation in the country. He was elected Chairman of the Presbyterian Church in 2009 for a term of four years. In July 2017, he was elected as the ninth president of Vanuatu.

Charlotte Salvi: Prime Minister and Chairman of the United Change Movement Party. Born in 1964. In his early years, he studied accounting in French New Caledonia. After graduation, he worked as an accountant at French-owned Unico Collective Power Company, Melanesian "Shell" Company, and Vanuatu Development Bank. He joined politics in 1991 and was elected for the first time in 2002. Successive Ministers of Trade and Industry, Minister of Land Resources, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Party, Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Minister of Home Affairs, etc. He became Prime Minister in February 2016.

[Economy] The economy lags behind and is listed as one of the least developed countries by the United Nations. Agriculture and tourism are pillars of the tile economy. In recent years, the tile economy has grown slowly. The tourism-based service industry and construction industry are still the main driving forces for the economy, but domestic household consumption, product exports, and the private economy have declined.

Gross domestic product (2018): approximately 928 million US dollars, an increase of approximately 3.2% year-on-year.

GDP per capita (2018): about 3,254 US dollars.

Currency Name: Watu

Exchange rate: 1 USD ≈ 110 Watt (July 2019).

[Resources] The original manganese ore mining has been exhausted. Newly proven resources include a small amount of manganese ore, iron ore, nickel, copper and bauxite, and a large amount of white sulfur volcanic ash. There is currently no mining operation. The forest coverage rate is 36%, of which only 20% has commercial mining value. The fishery is rich in resources and rich in tuna.

[Industry] Due to the high price and production cost of tile and the lack of export competitiveness of industrial products, foreign-invested industrial products are mainly used as substitutes for imported goods and are sold in tile countries. There are only small factories in food, wood processing, and soap.

[Agriculture] The tile climate and terrain are suitable for agriculture and pasture development. 41% of the land is fertile arable land, but only 18% of the cultivated land has been developed. The main agricultural products are dried coconut, kava, cocoa, coffee, taro, cassava, sweet potato, banana and so on. The rural population of Wa accounts for 80% of the country's population, but agricultural production methods are lagging behind, state investment is seriously insufficient, and development is slow.

[Fishing industry] Tuna is abundant. At present, more than 70 foreign fishing boats cooperate with Vanuatu to fish in Vanuatu's exclusive economic zone. According to the relevant regulations of Wa, foreign fishing vessels may, with the consent of the Wa, agree to carry out fishing operations in seas between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the land of Wa. Only Wa citizens and domestic companies can fish within 12 nautical miles, and fishing within 6 nautical miles is under the jurisdiction of the local provincial government. The commercial fisheries of domestic citizens are small.

[Tourism] Tourism is one of the pillar industries of tile and the largest source of foreign exchange income, with output value accounting for about one-third of the gross national product. Most tourists come from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The main tourist attractions are Port Vila, Tana, Santo, Malecula and Pontcourt Island. In 2017, Wa received a total of about 360,000 air and cruise tourists throughout the year.

[Transportation] Transportation facilities are backward and expensive. Mainly by sea. The total length of the highway is about 1,900 kilometers, most of which are dirt roads.

Water transport: The total length of the waterway is 780 kilometers. The maximum tonnage of inter-island transport ships is more than 200 tons, and existing ships are worn out and backward. Port Vila and Santo are international seaports, both of which can dock 10,000-ton merchant ships.

Vanuatu is also an emerging flag nation, with about 600 ships flying the flag. Sino-Washington shipping routes include Tianjin / Shanghai-Busan-Vera Port, Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Sydney-Vera Port.

Air Freight: Each major island has an airport. Port Vila has an international airport with direct flights to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. Vanuatu Airlines is the only company in Vanuatu that operates international routes. There are nearly 10 domestic routes.

[Financial Finance] In 2017, the government's fiscal revenue was about 320 million US dollars, and expenditure was about 220 million US dollars. The total domestic and foreign debt in 2016 was US $ 347 million. The main banks are:

(1) Reserve Bank of Vanuatu: Established in 1981. Formerly known as the Central Bank of Vanuatu, the name was changed to the Central Bank of Vanuatu in 1989.

(2) National Bank of Vanuatu: Established after taking over the Vanuatu Cooperative Reserve Bank in 1991. In November 1998, it merged with the Vanuatu Development Bank. It is a state-owned bank.

[Foreign trade] In 2018, the total foreign trade of Vanuatu was approximately US $ 420 million, of which US $ 70 million was exported and US $ 350 million was imported.

The main export products are dried coconut, coconut oil, beef, kava and cocoa. Tile products are mainly exported to the European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and other countries; mainly imported food, machinery, automobiles, chemical products, fuels, etc., mainly from Japan, Australia, Singapore, France, New Zealand and other countries. In recent years, as some western countries have banned the import of kava on the ground that it is harmful to human health, the export of wakawa has fallen sharply.

In April 2012, Wa officially became a WTO member.

[Foreign capital] Foreign capital is mainly concentrated in the trust insurance, legal, accounting, financial, tourism and other service industries, as well as in the fields of power, communications, and commerce. According to statistics from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Agency, the new foreign direct investment in Vanuatu in 2016 was 13.86 billion Wattu (about 130 million US dollars).

[Foreign Aid] The average annual foreign aid received by tile accounts for about 17% of GDP, mainly from Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Asian Development Bank, and United Nations agencies. It is generally used in industry, agriculture, education, Medical and health, as well as defense, justice and other specific projects.

[People's Life] The minimum monthly wage of the Wa government is set at 26,000 Vatu (about 240 USD). The supply of goods is relatively complete, but the price is relatively expensive. Free medical care is basically implemented nationwide.

[Military] No regular army. There are about 900 police and mobile units under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. Vanuatu has defense agreements with Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Vanuatu police and mobile force personnel are involved in United Nations peacekeeping operations in East Timor, Bosnia, the PNG Bougainville Peace Monitoring Mission, and the regional assistance mission to the Solomon Islands.

[Culture] The Ministry of Justice, Culture, Women and Religion of Vanuatu is the highest leadership body of Vanuatu cultural work. The National Culture Council appointed by the Ministry of Culture and Culture leads the cultural work. The Wa Cultural Center is a specific organization that organizes cultural activities. It has a National Museum, a National Library, a Cultural Site Registry, and a National Audiovisual Archives Office.

[Education] The tile education system stipulates that 6 years of elementary school, 4 years of junior high school, and 3-4 years of high school. Primary school enrollment reached 95% and secondary school enrolment was low. Secondary vocational schools include: National Technical College, Teachers College, Nurses School, Police School, etc. The University of South Pacific Law is located in Port Vila.

Nouvelle Caledonie， TBN， ABC Australian Network， TV NZ， Telsat Pay TV， LPF Pay TV等。

[News and Publications] The main newspapers are: Daily Post, privately owned, published in English from Monday to Saturday, with a circulation of about 3000-5000 copies.

Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation is the official news agency and owns Radio Vanuatu and TV Belong Vanuatu. China National Television's English News Channel and China International Radio (CRI) landed in Wa in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Paid international channels that have already landed on the tile also include: RFO / Tele Nouvelle Caledonie, TBN, ABC Australian Network, TV NZ, Telsat Pay TV, LPF Pay TV, etc.

[Foreign Relations] Vanuatu actively participates in international affairs. Established diplomatic relations with 74 countries, and is a member of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Organization, the Commonwealth member. It emphasizes maintaining its constructive role in the Asia-Pacific region and seeking a peaceful, harmonious, nuclear-free, cooperative development environment. In March 2018, Wa officially became a member of the AIIB.

[Relationship with the United States] Wamei established diplomatic relations in 1986. The U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea also serves as Ambassador to Vanuatu. In 1989, the U.S. and the U.S. signed an agreement with the United States to send a "Peace Corps" to Vanuatu. Since then, the United States has sent dozens of members of the "Peace Corps" to Vanuatu each year to help Vanguard develop education. The U.S. also sponsors Wa police and mobile units for professional training in the U.S. In 2005, the United States named Vale as one of the countries assisted by the Millennium Challenge Plan. In March 2006, the United States signed an agreement with Vanuatu and provided US $ 66.69 million to Vanuatu for the next five years for its infrastructure construction. In 2015, the United States provided approximately $ 2.1 million in education, medical, and humanitarian assistance, primarily through the Peace Corps. In addition, the United States also provided development assistance to Vanuatu through the World Bank, the United Nations Children's Development Fund, and the World Health Organization. In December 2018, Xue Ruifu, Assistant Secretary of Asia-Pacific Affairs of the US Department of Defense, visited Vanuatu.

[Relationship with Australia] Wako Australia established diplomatic relations in 1980. Australia is the largest donor country to Vanuatu. In the 2015/2016 financial year, Australia provided assistance of 41.9 million Australian dollars. The aid focuses on education, medical care and the rule of law. Wa Ao has a defense agreement. Australia is the largest trading partner and source of imported products for Vanuatu. Tile mainly imports food, computer equipment, tobacco, alcohol and construction materials from Australia, and exports beef, seafood, and wood products. Australia is the main source country for the tourism industry in Wa, and 2/3 of Wa's long-term tourists come from Australia. In March 2015, Australian Foreign Minister Bishop visited Vanuatu. In June 2018, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu visited Australia. In February 2019, Foreign Minister Regen Vanu visited Australia.

[Relationship with New Zealand] Wasin established diplomatic relations in 1980. In 1991, the two countries signed an agreement on defense cooperation. Xinhua is one of Vanuatu's main donors. Since 2007, seasonal workers in Vanuatu have been allowed to go to new orchard management and other projects. In 2015/2016, S $ 25.5 million was provided to Vanuatu. It mainly imports medicines, aircraft parts, wood, steel, refrigerants and oil products, and mainly exports fish and fish products, metal scraps and scraps, coconut and palm oil, and coffee. Xinhua is one of the main source countries of Wa tourism. The new High Commission has been established in Wa. In February 2013, the new Minister of Trade Groze visited Poland. In June 2016, New Zealand's Foreign Minister McCurry visited Vanuatu. In August, Prime Minister Salvi of New Zealand paid an official visit to New Zealand, and met and talked with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Foreign Minister McCurry, and Minister of Climate Change Bennett. In December 2017, Vanuatu appointed the first Vanuatu High School in New Zealand and set up a college in Wellington. In February 2018, Foreign Minister Regen Vanu visited New Zealand. In August, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Peters visited Vanuatu. In May 2019, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu paid his second official visit to New Zealand. In June, Peters, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand, visited Vanuatu.

[Relationship with Britain and France] Britain and France were the common sovereign states of the tile. In recent years, Britain has reduced aid to Vanuatu and currently only provides aid to education. In 2005, the British High Commission was closed. In July 2019, Bell from the British High School in Waiga submitted his credentials to the President of Mozambique. This is the first time that the British resumed the High School in Wako after 14 years and sent its first permanent resident in Waco. France has an embassy in Vanuatu, which is one of Vanuatu ’s main donors. Assistance to Vanuatu mainly involves education, health, culture, military, and justice. France cooperates with Vanuatu in defense through French forces stationed in New Caledonia. In January 2017, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu visited France. In April 2018, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu went to London to attend the Commonwealth Government Summit. In May, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu met with French President Macron in New Caledonia.

[Relations with Japan] Vaji established diplomatic relations in 1981. Japanese Ambassador to Fiji also serves as Ambassador to Vanuatu. Since the 1990s, the relations between Venezuela and Japan have developed rapidly. The two sides have established joint ventures in fisheries, meat processing, and tourism. In 2015, Prime Minister Natuman attended the 7th Japan-Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting in Fukushima, Japan. In January 2017, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vanke Rankine went to Japan to attend the Japan-Pacific Island Foreign Ministers Meeting. The two sides agreed to establish embassies in 2018. In May 2018, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu went to Japan to attend the Eighth Japan-Pacific Island Leaders Meeting.

[Relationship with the European Union] Vanuatu has close relations with the European Union. From 1975 to 2000, Vanuatu received a total of US $ 84 million in assistance from the EU, of which 91% was used for fisheries, agriculture, education and infrastructure construction projects. The tile is the only government financial recipient of the European Union among Pacific island countries. According to the 11th European Development Fund of the European Union, from 2014 to 2020, the EU will provide assistance to Vanuatu of approximately 31 million Euros. In October 2014, the EU and Wa held political consultations in Port Vila, and the two parties conducted in-depth discussions on human rights, governance and the legal system. In June 2016, Mika, member of the European Commission responsible for international cooperation and development, visited Wa. In January 2017, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu led a delegation to attend the Fourth Annual EU-Vanuadian Political Dialogue Conference in Brussels.

[Relationship with other Pacific island countries] Vanuatu is a member of the Melanesian Pioneer Group (MSG) with Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji. The group meets annually to coordinate positions on regional affairs. The group secretariat is now located in Port Vila. In September 2017, Prime Minister Salvi of Vanuatu officially signed the Agreement on Closer Pacific Economic Relations.

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