Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko highlighted an education program partnered with China when speaking about forging closer people-to-people relations between the two countries in an interview.
Speaking at a panel interview session with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in east China's city of Xiamen on Wednesday, Tkatchenko spoke positively about his country's cooperation with China at all levels.
"We've seen some really great projects come forward with our partnership with China and also our sister city relationships with Shenzhen and with other provinces like Guangdong [Shenzhen City in Guangdong and other Chinese provinces] that have really inspired to bring our two countries closer together," he said. On people-to-people exchanges, Tkatchenko spoke of a school project funded by China as a key bridge to connect the two peoples, while providing thousands of Papua New Guineans with quality education each year.
"The people to people relationship between China and Papua New Guinea is very important. And it has come out through an investment into a school called Butuka Academy which is a school of excellence and a friendship school between China and Papua New Guinea which educates over 3,000 Papua New Guineans every year from elementary, primary to high school. It's a state-of-the-art school as well," said Tkatchenko.
Noting that the secondary school and primary school of the Butuka Academy are teaching Chinese classes, the minister proudly said that some of the students there can speak Chinese as fluently as native speakers.
"It has become a great success since the construction of that school and the opening of the school by the Chinese President in 2018. Now that shows you the dedication and the will and the need of partnership in this sector, which has really enhanced our relationship with China in our future generations. And that's going to be going on for a long, long time. And we look forward to the other projects as well, in health, and also in infrastructure development, roads and hotels and many other things that China's private sector and government have contributed to," he said.
Papua New Guinean FM highlights education project with China on enhancing friendship
China and Germany, as major countries, should shoulder their responsibilities, uphold mutual respect, transcend differences in social systems, historical backgrounds and cultures, and build a more mature model of positive interaction and a more stable bilateral policy framework, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul that it is hoped that Germany will view China's development as an opportunity for deeper cooperation and a driving force for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and work together to promote the steady and healthy development of the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership.
Noting that this is the first visit to China by a German foreign minister since the formation of Germany's new government -- though the visit has encountered twists and turns -- Wang quoted a Chinese saying: "Good things come to those who wait." He emphasized that "the timing is not the key; what truly matters is the purpose. The visit should be for cooperation, not confrontation; for enhancing mutual understanding and trust, not widening differences."
Wang further urged Germany to encourage the EU to return to a rational and pragmatic China policy, adhere to the correct direction of mutually beneficial cooperation, resolve differences through dialogue, and avoid politicizing economic issues, instrumentalizing trade issues, or securitizing normal cooperation.
Wang emphasized that the one-China principle serves as an important political foundation for China-Germany relations, and there is no room for ambiguity. He further noted that unlike Germany, Japan has yet to conduct a thorough reflection on its history of aggression in the eight decades since the end of WWII.
Wadephul said that in the face of a turbulent global landscape, Germany and China need to shoulder special responsibilities, strengthen communication and coordination, and become reliable and predictable partners for each other.
He said that Germany remains firmly committed to the one-China policy, and this position is unwavering.
German enterprises in China have full confidence in the Chinese market and are willing to further deepen their presence in the country, Wadephul said, adding that Germany supports the EU and China in seeking mutual benefit and win-win outcomes through dialogue and stands ready to play a constructive role in this regard.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Wadephul elaborated on Germany's position and expressed hope that China would leverage its influence to help bring about an early end to the crisis.
Wang reaffirmed China's consistent stance, emphasizing that all parties should cherish the current momentum for a political settlement, work towards the same goal, and ultimately reach a fair, durable and binding peace agreement through dialogue and negotiations.
China supports all efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role in this regard, Wang added.
Chinese FM calls on China, Germany to shoulder responsibilities as major countries for more stable bilateral policy framework
