Confirmed: Chinese assistance for Apec a gift

THE Chinese government says its assistance to improve infrastructure to Papua New Guinea is a gift to the people and not a loan as some people perceive, says Chinese Ambassador Xue Bing.
China yesterday donated three containers of mobile scanning machines to the PNG Customs Service, to coincide with the launch of the organisation’s four-year strategic development plan by Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel.
The three mobile X-ray machines cost K37.4 million to be used during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.
Xue said China had so far delivered 75 mini-vans, 10 buses and nine fire engines to support PNG host Apec.
He said the Chinese government would do its bit to support PNG.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will be on a State visit before the Apec Leaders’ Meeting next month.
National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru thanked China for the donation.
He said PNG needed development partners such as China to achieve its development agendas and aspirations.