PNG, China cooperation have ‘bright future’

 PAPUA New Guinea and China have a positive future in their economic and trade cooperation, according to Chinese Ambassador to PNG Ruiyou Li. 

Li told The National that a number of Chinese companies had been engaged in infrastructure development, agriculture and health – some of them with funding support from the China Exim Bank.

“These projects include two sections of road constructions in the National Capital District, National ID registration system, the National Broadband, the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone in Madang, and the water and sewerage network in Kokopo.

“On technical and economic cooperation, there are a number of projects financed with grant aid from the Chinese government. The major one is the PNG International Convention Centre which is China’s biggest grant aid project in the Pacific island countries.”

Li said China’s financial support to PNG was an act of “the poor helping the poor”, stating that China was also still a developing country with a per capita Gross Domestic Product in 2014 of about US$7300 (K21,500).

He said PNG was experiencing rapid development but was yet to benefit from industrialisation and proper infrastructure.

“The demand for development is high, yet largely subdued because of lack of proper funding, affordable equipment and technology,” he said. 

“PNG is rich in resources and PNG people should not be holding a golden bowl without proper food.

“The PNG government and people have been committed to turning the country into a prosperous nation with ambitious economic and social development plans which largely focus on infrastructure development.”