Ports cooperation established

 By HELEN TARAWA

The signing ceremony to establish a sister port relation between the ports of Port Moresby and Shenzhen in China is significant to the overall economic and social well-being of the people of PNG, NCD Governor Powes Parkop says.

Parkop said the ports of Lae and Port Moresby were strategically placed and critical to the Chinese economy because PNG was the pathway between Asia and the Pacific.

“As governor of our capital city, I’d like to thank the Shenzhen municipality and your port authority for having confidence in our port and in our economy and you’ve made a right decision to make this agreement for a sister port relationship with our port authority,” he said.

Parkop said the PNG economy was based on mainly natural resources exports of oil, gas and minerals and on agricultural products. 

“We have a mutual relationship between the people and government of independent state of PNG and people and government of the People’s Republic of China,” he said.

“On behalf of our government, I would like to thank the municipal government of Shenzhen, and the government of the People’s Republic of China for this wonderful gesture in seeking to establish a sister port relationship with a small port here in Port Moresby.

Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Xuenfeng Ai said PNG was surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and owned many ports and currently the direct shipping line was open between the two regions. 

Shenzhen port is committed to growing with ports of PNG sharing experiences and technical expertise and seeking closer cooperation and mutual development, he said

He said Shenzhen was willing to deepen friendship with PNG, work together and achieve a win-win situation and advance to a new stage.