Vice premier meets Papua New Guinean Governor General on ties
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Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday held talks with Papua New Guinean Governor General Paulias Matane on efforts to further relations between the two countries.
"China attaches great importance to bilateral ties with Papua New Guinea," said Li, who arrived in the country for a visit on Tuesday.
The development of their friendly cooperative ties was not only in line with the common interests of the peoples of the two countries, but also conducive to peace, stability and progress in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.
China was ready to work with the Papua New Guinean side to continue their mutual political trust, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and close coordination in multi-lateral affairs in efforts to constantly push forward their relations, he added.
China appreciated the Papua New Guinean government's staunch adherence to the one-China policy and its support to China's peaceful reunification, Li said.
With their economies highly complementary in nature, China and Papua New Guinea enjoyed a broad prospect for economic cooperation, Li said, adding that China would like to work with Papua New Guinea to expand cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, forestry and fishery, infrastructure, high-tech and people-to-people exchanges.
China was also ready to intensify communication and cooperation with Papua New Guinea in world affairs to safeguard the interests of the two countries and developing nations, he said.
Recalling his tour to China in 2006, Matane expressed a profound respect for the Chinese people's great endeavor in national construction.
Their mutual trust and friendship had grown continually stronger, their trade and mutual investment surged rapidly and their cooperation in all fields ever expanded since the two countries forged diplomatic links in 1976, said Matane.
Matane thanked China for the support and aid the Chinese government had provided for Papua New Guinea's social and economic development.
Noting that China was Papua New Guinea's key export market, Matane said Papua New Guinea hoped to maintain and expand cooperation with the country in trade, investment, agriculture, fishery, manufacture, shipping, high-tech and education, and intensify exchanges and coordination in international and regional multi-lateral affairs.
The governor general reiterated Papua New Guinea's one-China policy.
Papua New Guinea is the last stop of Li's three-nation tour, which has already taken him to Australia and New Zealand.
