Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent State visit to Fiji on November 21-23 marked a historical first for a Chinese president, where Xi and leaders of eight Pacific Island Countries agreed to establish a “strategic partnership” aimed at mutual respect and common development. China also announced a range of major measures to strengthen relations with the PICs encompassing trade, investment and aid. The Pacific region is facing massive development challenges. Over the past decade, China’s role as a development partner in this region has been growing rapidly, which presents an increasing number of opportunities for development partners to engage with Chinese aid in areas of common interest and increase developmental impacts in response to local needs.