Papua New Guinea looks forward to its future relationship with China and believes ties will grow stronger, the Pacific Island country's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said on Wednesday.
Tkatchenko made the remarks in a group interview with China Global Television Network on the sidelines of the 3rd China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which runs from Wednesday to Thursday in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.
"We have a very strong relationship with China. We'll be celebrating 50 years of diplomacy and diplomatic relations going forward. China is one of our biggest economic and trade partners for our country and sits greatly in infrastructure and development in many different ways -- privately, as well as government-to-government and grant," he said.
The foreign minister reaffirmed his country's commitment to the one-China principle and the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting the significant growth prospects of bilateral cooperation.
"We have a lot of ongoing projects that will enhance the lives of Papua New Guineans. We are working through the One Belt One Road Initiative of China, which greatly enhances the economic and trade with Papa New Guinea and China and increases the prosperity of our people going forward in many different sectors from education to health and to the well-being of our people and their future," said Tkatchenko.
Noting Papua New Guinea's strategic position, Tkatchenko said he expects ties with China will help his country balance its role both in the South Pacific as well as Southeast Asia.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has also engaged in growing ties with China in recent years, including through the signing of free trade agreements.
Papua New Guinea's bid to join ASEAN recently caught the attention of the association's Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, who highlighted the matter at a press briefing on Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
"For us, the relationship with China is no mistake. It is a positive attribute to our country and we look forward to continuing our relationship with China, growing our countries together, with also Papua New Guinea moving forward to becoming a member of ASEAN," he said.
Papua New Guinea looks forward to stronger future ties with China: FM
