Trade between China and the Pacific islands almost doubled in 2015 to US$7.5billion.
Trade statistics released by Pacific Islands Trade & Invest China show that the 14 countries of the Pacific Islands Forum exported $2.5 billion worth of goods to China last year, up from $2 billion in 2014.
RNZ reports exports from China doubled to $5 billion over the same period including some significant ship sales for the fishing industry.
Papua New Guinea accounted for nearly $2 billion of the region's exports as the largest exporter of timber to China and an important exporter of Liquid Natural Gas.
Fish and fish products accounted for a significant proportion of exports from other Pacific countries.
Source:
Radio New Zealand