China remains PNG’s biggest importer: PM

CHINA is the biggest importer of Papua New Guinean (PNG) products compared with other bilateral partners, says Prime Minister James Marape.
He made the remarks during the 70th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Port Moresby last Thursday at the International Convention Centre.
Marape asked Chinese ambassador to PNG Xue Bing to relay to President Xi Jingping: “Let me place on record that you buy more from us than any other country that PNG has bilateral relations with.”
He said PNG and China always had a good trade relation which started 43 years ago when the two countries signed a joint communique recognising the one-China policy.
“This policy has been a strong political foundation for the basis of what our relationship has been anchored on,” he said.
“We appreciate the warm thoughts of leaders in the Chinese government have towards PNG and the effort that the Chinese government and people have played since we established bilateral relations.
“It helps shape, mold and assist the government of PNG and her people by ensuring that we reach a stage of development where every Papua New Guineans is entitled and subscribed to.
“Our Chinese relations have always been about trade relations and I believe in modern age of friendly bilateral relations because today, it is not about political territories but more about trade relations.”
Marape said any nation that wants to have a relationship with PNG going into the future: “We must work to bridge the divide between trade connections.
“That is something that PNG will work towards, having healthy trade relationships with any country.”
Marape said PNG did not intend to be beggars and borrowers and would work on its economic sectors so that other nations could come to enjoy and foster a good economic relationship with it.