Marape stands by visit

PRIME Minister James Marape says the country remains “friends to all and enemies to none” and this has been its stance since gaining independence in 1975 under Prime Minister and founder of Pangu Pati, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
He said this yesterday when welcoming Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who stopped over on an eight-nation tour of the Pacific.
In a statement yesterday, Marape said: “In 1976, Pangu, under the wisdom of Sir Michael, declared a One-China policy long before the geo-politics of today.
“The present PNG leadership will maintain this policy.
“China is the major buyer of our produce, and we will engage with them more in commerce and trade, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relationship going into the future.
“For the Chinese foreign minister (Wang) to visit us is affirmation of the warm relationship and friendship between our countries.
“Papua New Guinea recognises China as an important bilateral partner.
“China buys over 50 per cent of all the gas produced in our country, through PNG LNG, and has given an undertaking to buy additional gas that we produce from Papua LNG and possibly P’nyang.
“China also imports most of our raw materials.”
Meanwhile, Marape said Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill’s questioning of the visit of the Chinese foreign minister was unbecoming of a former prime minister.
O’Neill had said now was not the right time for foreign visits, not particularly from China, but from any visiting foreign dignitary.
“All election related preparations have been made or should have been well in advance and any donations of security equipment of agreements for China to provide security or election support this late in the timetable is improper,” O’Neill said.