Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

06/03/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/03/2021 07:42

Wang Yi Holds Talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Papua New Guinea Soroi Eoe

On June 3, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Soroi Eoe in Guiyang.

Wang Yi said, China is the first country that you visit after taking the new post of foreign minister, and you are also the first political leader from a Pacific Island country to visit China after the COVID-19 outbreak, which fully embodies the particular importance of China-PNG relations. As an important country in the Pacific region, PNG is China's good friend, good brother and good partner. This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over 45 years, especially since President Xi Jinping's state visit to PNG in 2018, both sides have accelerated cooperation in all fields, and set an example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes.

Wang Yi said, the most important reason for the even stronger China-PNG ties is that the two countries always treat each other as equals and support each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. China appreciates PNG for its strong adherence to the one-China policy and just stance of non-interference in China's internal affairs on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. China will continue to firmly support PNG in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, pursuing a development path tailored to its national reality, and further growing.

Wang Yi expressed, as the pandemic is still raging across the world, we must never relax efforts to strengthen international anti-pandemic cooperation. China stands ready to share experience with PNG in combating the virus, offer the country with medical supplies, and strengthen exchanges in public health governance and medical technology, promoting the building of a global community of health for all. China is considering to set up the China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) emergency supplies reserve, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with PNG and other PICs in response to major public health contingencies and natural disasters.

Wang Yi expressed, China and PNG enjoy high economic complementarity and enormous potential for cooperation. China is willing to align development strategies with PNG, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen cooperation in fields such as investment, economy and trade, mineral resources, energy, transport, and ocean, and increase exchanges in education, culture and media, as well as at local levels, enriching the comprehensive strategic partnership and delivering greater benefits to the two peoples.

Wang Yi emphasized, China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, rejects the geopolitical games, and never seeks sphere of influence. China always cooperates with PICs on the basis of equality and respect, and it is committed to promoting the development and prosperity of PICs. The assertion that China 'coerces' PICs is pure fabrication. As independent sovereign states, PICs have the right to determine their own foreign policy. China will strengthen the all-round cooperation with PICs in the spirit of openness and equality.

Eoe congratulates on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and appreciates China's long-term strong support and assistance for PNG's social and economic development, especially for its fight against the pandemic. PNG speaks highly of the phenomenal progress made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC. Understanding that political stability is an important cornerstone of social and economic development, PNG hopes to deepen exchanges on state governance with China and draw upon China's development experience, achieving common development and prosperity and building a community with a shared future between China and Pacific Islands Countries.

Eoe said, PNG firmly upholds the one-China policy and always believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Rising sea level in the Pacific poses survival crisis to PICs. PNG thanks China for speaking out in the international community and supporting island countries in addressing severe challenges resulting from climate change. PNG and other PICs firmly oppose Japan's discharging of nuclear waste water into the Pacific, and will jointly resist Japan's irresponsible behavior with China and other countries. PNG is committed to maintaining sound relations with all countries, and its cooperation with China brings tangible benefits to PICs, including PNG. PNG hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in fields such as infrastructure, communication, agriculture, and health, and align the Belt and Road Initiative with 'Connecting Papua New Guinea', lifting the development of China-PNG ties to a new high.