PNG eyes cooperation with China to enhance trade

PAPUA New Guinea is willing to continue to tap into the potential of cooperation with China to further enhance the economic and trade relations between the two countries, an official says.
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade deputy secretary Joseph Varo made the statement on Thursday during the inaugural PNG-China joint economic and trade committee (JETC) meeting.
This is the first economic and trade mechanism meeting between China and Oceania countries since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Varo said PNG was committed to developing relations and practical cooperation with China.
“The two sides efficiently pushed forward the successful registration of 77 PNG fish products exporters that wish to export their products to China, bringing new opportunities for expanding bilateral trade scope,” he said.
“PNG is willing to continue to tap into the potential of cooperation with China to further enhance the economic and trade relations between the two countries.”
Vice-minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative Wang Shouwen said PNG was China’s largest economic and trade partner in the Pacific and it was also the first country in the region to sign the MoU of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the cooperation plan on jointly promoting BRI with China.
“China is willing to continue strengthening practical cooperation in various fields with PNG to promote economic and trade relations to a new level so as to benefit the peoples of both countries,” Shouwen said.
The two countries agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic internationally, deepen the integration of BRI in PNG.