Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that the Chinese side stands ready to work with Papua New Guinea (PNG) to build a community with a shared future for China and Pacific island nations.
During a telephone conversation with PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape, Xi noted that the country has important influence in the Pacific islands region, and China would like to join hands with PNG to maintain the general direction of bilateral friendly cooperation.
He pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and PNG 45 years ago, the two sides have always treated each other equally and with respect, and supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, maintained peace and stability in the South Pacific region, and promoted regional development and prosperity.
The relationship between China and Papua New Guinea has become a role model of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries of different sizes and different social systems, Xi said.
China firmly supports PNG in taking a development path that suits its national conditions and is willing to work with PNG to push bilateral relations to a higher level, he added.
The Chinese side is willing to continue to provide PNG with economic and technical assistance with no political conditions attached, and provide various support for PNG in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
The two sides should work together to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, resource protection and utilisation, and promote cooperation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road to reap more fruits, Xi noted.
Xi also said that the two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and multilateral occasions, deal with challenges such as climate change, actively carry out the Global Development Initiative, stick to true multilateralism, and safeguard international equity and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries.
SOURCE: XINHUA/PACNEWS
