PORT MORESBY - China stands ready to work with Papua New Guinea (PNG) to inject impetus into the overall development of relations between China and the Pacific island countries, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday.
Wang made the remarks at a joint press conference with PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato after their talks.
Calling PNG a good friend and partner of China in the South Pacific region, Wang said since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and PNG, the two countries have always supported and helped each other, and forged profound friendship and strong mutual trust. In 2014, the leaders of the two countries announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between their two countries, Wang said, adding that since then, bilateral cooperation has witnessed a series of important developments. Wang said China-PNG relations have now become an exemplary model for the ties between China and the Pacific island countries as well as the South-South cooperation.
He said that as both China and PNG are developing countries, China is willing to enhance strategic coordination with PNG and jointly support multilateralism and free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and other international arenas so as to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and other countries as well.
Noting that in two weeks, PNG will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which is a great event for PNG and the Pacific islands region, Wang said China has provided assistance to PNG within its capacity and believes that the meeting will be a success. (Xinhua)