SUVA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday clarified that the docking of Chinese vessel Yuanwang 7 in the Suva Port is for getting normal supplies, local media reported.
According to Fijivillage website, Bainimarama told Legend FM News that Yuanwang 7, which docked in Suva last Saturday, is a satellite tracking ship.
The ship and her sister ships have been using Suva as a port of call to take on bunker and fresh food supplies, he said, adding that the crew goes shopping and eat in restaurants in Fiji, and every trip into Fiji puts millions of Fijian dollars into the South Pacific island nation's economy.
On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo slammed the Australian media for their recent distorted reports on Yuanwang 7.
The ambassador said the Australian media reports that China had a spy ship docked next to the Australian military vessel HMAS Adelaide in Suva, are nonsense.
Describing the Australian reports as being totally based on speculation and not on fact, Qian told Fijian media that Yuanwang 7, which has already got Fijian government's approval for the port visit, is in Suva for normal supplies.
The ambassador made it clear that the appearance of the Chinese and Australian vessels in the Suva Port at the same time is all coincidental.
He urged the Australian media to do more to help improve relations between the two countries through objective and fair coverage of China's development and bilateral ties.
Two Australian Navy vessels, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Melbourne, arrived into the Suva Port on Saturday for visit and both vessels are enroute to Hawaii to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2018.
