Govt keen to continue trade talks

THE Government looks forward to continuous carbon trade talks with Chinese businessman Chen Mailin but the focus now is fighting the Covid-19, says Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori said.
Chen, last month, came with other Chinese officials on a private jet from Hong Kong under clearance from the National Pandemic Act, according to Controller David Manning then.
“Due to the Covid-19, it has impacted on a lot of our programmes, we now prioritise on projects of national importance like the Wafi-Golpu project,” Mori said yesterday when contacted for an update of Mailin’s three-day visit that raised questions over the purpose and why they did not follow quarantined procedures.
“They are willing to talk but what is important is making and establishing formal dialogue, we are looking forward to a formal memorandum of understanding based on further discussions,” he said.
Prime Minister James Marape said the Chinese group was in Port Moresby on business.
The team also donated K1 million worth of medical facemasks and a commitment to ship 20 ventilators. According to a South China Morning Post article last December, Chen had made his fortune in China through
hotels and real estate development.
His business interests also include pharmaceuticals and garment manufacturing.