Papua New Guinea and China Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Port Moresby Meeting

On April 21, 2024, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Marape expressed appreciation to Wang for recognizing Papua New Guinea's need to ensure free trade flows, highlighting the significant trade surplus Papua New Guinea enjoys with China.

Marape noted that in 2022, Papua New Guinea exported 7 billion kina worth of goods to China while importing only 3 billion kina, emphasizing that China is a major export destination for the country, not just in the oil and gas sector, but also in other exports. In response, Wang stated that China is ready to become Papua New Guinea's most trustworthy partner in its development process and is prepared to accelerate negotiations for a free trade agreement while boosting cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, finance, and infrastructure to benefit both countries.

Wang further emphasized that China firmly supports Papua New Guinea's sovereignty and territorial integrity, appreciating its adherence to the one-China principle. The two ministers agreed to focus on development, people's welfare, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as disaster prevention, communications, agriculture, and energy. China also expressed its willingness to provide emergency humanitarian aid to Papua New Guinea following recent flood disasters.

Why this matters: The meeting between Papua New Guinea and China highlights the growing economic and strategic importance of the Pacific region. As China seeks to expand its influence and strengthen partnerships with Pacific island nations, this deepening cooperation with Papua New Guinea could have significant implications for regional geopolitics and trade dynamics.

Marape called China a sincere good friend for Papua New Guinea, stating that bilateral relations have taken deep roots and yielded fruitful results. He promised to unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and maintain a friendly policy toward China. Marape also noted that "China's development has provided impetus for world economic growth and opportunities for other countries," expressing Papua New Guinea's willingness to learn from China's experience and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

Key Takeaways

• PNG and China discuss strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation.
• PNG enjoys a significant trade surplus with China, a major export destination.
• China pledges to become PNG's most trustworthy partner and accelerate FTA negotiations.
• China firmly supports PNG's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adhering to one-China policy.
• Deepening China-PNG cooperation has implications for regional geopolitics and trade dynamics.