President praises ‘stable, healthy’ relations with PNG

PAPUA New Guinea is an influential country in the Pacific with beautiful traditions and rich resources, Chinese President Xi Jinping says.
Xi said, during a meeting with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Cabinet Ministers on Friday, that PNG had a very clear and credible development target.
“Since we established diplomatic relations, a stable and heathy development has been maintained especially in recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill,” he said.
“Your country’s development has paid greater attention to cooperation with China.
“I and the Chinese government pay greater attention to PNG.
“I am pleased to see the development of communication programme in every sector and I congratulate you on this.”
O’Neill explained to journalists later the misunderstanding over the coverage of the Pacific Island leaders meeting with Xi on Saturday.
He said it was organised by the Chinese government.
“It was not an open forum meeting,” he said.
“It was something the Chinese organised and it is one-on-one with each country from the Pacific.
“The meeting was between the presidents and prime ministers of each country with President Xi. So what they have discussed and how they have development partners is something they will (explain) themselves.”
PNG and foreign journalists had turned up for the Pacific Islands leaders meeting with President Xi at the Stanley Hotel but were turned away as it was only for Chinese reporters.