On March 9, 2023, Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs of the Chinese Government Qian Bo visited Vanuatu. He met respectively with Vanuatu’s President Nikenike Vurobaravu, Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, Deputy Prime Minister Sato Kilman, and Foreign Minister Jotham Napat, and also met with Director General of Melanesian Spearhead Group Leonard Louma. Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu Li Minggang attended relevant activities.

Special Envoy Qian Bo conveyed sincere sympathies of Chinese leaders and Foreign Minister Qin Gang over the hurricane disaster hitting Vanuatu a few days before, and briefed them on China's disaster relief assistance measures for Vanuatu, stressing that China and Vanuatu are good friends, good brothers and good partners who share weal and woe and help each other, and China will continue to provide Vanuatu with post-disaster reconstruction support and assistance within its capacity and in light of the country's actual needs. Qian Bo said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the current China-Vanuatu relations are at their best in history. China is ready to work with Vanuatu to deepen political mutual trust and strategic coordination, and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, to promote even better and greater development of the China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vanuatu sincerely thanked China for extending once again a timely helping hand to Vanuatu at a time of difficulties, noting that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and China will always be a good brother that Vanuatu can rely on. Vanuatu welcomed the visit by Special Envoy Qian Bo and his delegation, thanked China for its long-term and selfless assistance for the country's economic and social development, and stressed that the one-China principle is the cornerstone of Vanuatu's foreign policy and the consensus of both the ruling and opposition parties of the country. He noted that Vanuatu will firmly abide by this principle, continue to work with China to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, strengthen exchanges at all levels, and expand practical cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, to further consolidate Vanuatu-China friendship, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and the broader developing world.