China tie vital

PRIME Minister James Marape says the China-PNG relationship is very important and cannot be compromised or sabotaged.
He said this last week during China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s brief visit to the country during his eight-nation tour of the Pacific region.
Marape said the country was focused on strengthening economic relationships with China, particularly in downstream processing of raw materials for export.
Number of agreements signed between the two governments during the visit included promoting investment in green development, Covid-19 pandemic response, disaster prevention and mitigation and development of an anti-narcotics centre among others.
Marape noted China was one of the country’s largest trading partners.
“We export more to China than we import from China,” he said.
Both Marape and Foreign Affairs Minister Soroi Eoe met with Wang in Port Moresby on Friday.
Wang said: “Facts have proved that sound China-PNG relations not only bring huge benefits to the two countries and two peoples, but also help improve the overall relations between China and the Pacific Island countries (PICs).
“PNG is China’s largest trading partner, investment destination and project-contracting market in the South Pacific region.”
The two sides have agreed to seek greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Connect PNG Infrastructure Development Programme 2020-2040, complete the feasibility study of the free trade agreement at an early date, and strengthen experience-sharing on the development of special economic zones.
Wang said: “PNG is an important strategic cooperative partner of China in the South Pacific region.
“China will continue to provide economic and technical assistance with no political strings attached for PNG to help its economic and social development.”
He added that as the largest Pacific Island country, PNG exerts an important influence on the Asia-Pacific region.
Wang highlighted that PNG was the first Pacific Island nation to sign the memorandum of understanding and cooperation plan with China on Belt and Road cooperation.
Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said if his party (People’s National Congress) forms Government, these agreements would be nullified on the basis that they were not taken undertaken in the right spirit or in accordance with the country’s democratic value.