Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called for joint efforts from China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) to start negotiations on a free trade agreement at an early date and deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with PNG's Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko on the sidelines of the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.
Wang said the China-PNG friendship has withstood the test of time and become an invaluable asset shared by the two peoples.
Under the guidance of successive generations of leaders of the two countries, China and the PNG have become good friends who trust each other, good partners who uphold mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and good brothers who support each other in international affairs, Wang said.
He extended congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence this year.
Noting that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Papua New Guinea, Wang called for efforts from both sides to draw upon the best practices of the development of bilateral ties and jointly chart a new course for another 50 years of relations.
Wang said Papua New Guinea is welcome to attend the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation, which is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong on Friday.
China attaches great importance to Papua New Guinea's influence as a major country in the South Pacific and its role as a gateway to Asia, he continued.
China stands ready to work with the PNG and other Pacific island nations to implement the outcomes of the third China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and make greater contributions to regional peace and development, he said.
Tkatchenko, for his part, said developing relations with China is of vital importance to Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea remains firmly committed to the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
Tkatchenko said Papua New Guinea is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with China to advance the joint development of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative and strengthen practical cooperation in agriculture, education, telecommunications and energy, as well as at the subnational levels, among other fields, so as to help his country achieve sustainable development.
Chinese FM calls for early start of negotiations on China-PNG free trade agreement
