China exports up to K13bil: DPM

By GLORIA BAUAI
PNG exports to China have increased by over K13 billion in the last two years, Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil says.
“It is public knowledge that PNG exports to China have grown from K11.829 billion in 2018 to K13.185 billion in 2020,” he said.
Basil said the dominant exports between 2018 and 2019 were from extractive industry accounting for up to 94 per cent – including liquefied natural gas (LNG).
“The three leading recipients of our exports based on 2018 figures are China, Japan and Australia,” he said.
“In comparison, 50 per cent of imports were from Australia followed by Singapore, China and the United States.” Basil said there was potential to do better with other exports and imports.
He reassured the Chinese Ambassador Xue Bing that PNG’s focus in the relationship between the two countries was solely in relation to economic matters, commerce and mutually beneficial trade.
“As a primary producing country with raw materials, my country is aware of the huge market in China for raw products,” he said.
“I understand we will be discussing the gas component sometime next week, with the upcoming Papua LNG, but our country’s interest – and I believe yours – extends beyond energy to mining, agriculture, forestry, fishery and other fields of technology.
“We also note China’s growing involvement in civil and road construction as well as in the electronic and computer sectors.”
Basil said PNG would remain a neutral friend to China and all other major players in the world, despite the growing competition between China and the United States.
“The tensions on many fronts are churning waves and tossing many countries of the world including us in the Pacific like driftwood,” he said.
“PNG stands neutral and remains friends to all and enemies to none.”