The Chinese ambassador Mr Chen Yuwen expressed interest in the work the Fiji Prisons and Correctional Service was doing when he paid a courtesy visit on the Commissioner of Prisons Mr Ioane Naivalurua.

Mr ;Yuwen who had just recently taken up his new appointment was especially interested in the Yellow Ribbon Project and other initiatives aimed at improving the employability of inmates. He was accompanied by senior officials of the embassy in Suva.

Mr Naivalurua also briefed the ambassador and his senior officials on the new direction the correctional service was taking in assisting the successful reintegration of offenders back into society when they are released from the correctional institutions.

He also took the opportunity to explore avenues when the Chinese government through its embassy in Suva could assist in promoting and developing some of the initiatives through direct aid or under its bilateral agreement with the Fiji government.

Foreign offices based in Suva are among the key stakeholders whose support and assistance would be sought as the correctional service starts to make plans for the 2009 Yellow Ribbon programme of activities.