Stronger ties benefit Pacific island nations

Addressing impact of climate change seen as key area for further cooperation

This summer, Basi Sammuel, a 15-year-old boy from the Solomon Islands, completed a journey that stretched across the Pacific Ocean — and straight into the operating room of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University in Guiyang, Guizhou province.

There, he underwent lifesaving open-heart surgery that gave him not just a healed heart, but also a renewed future.

Five months ago, Basi began experiencing persistent tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. After a detailed examination by the Chinese medical team sent to the Pacific island country, Basi was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect, and immediate surgery was recommended.