The PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Justin Tkatchenko held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, His Excellency, Mr. Qin Gang, State Counselor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, on the 30th March 2023 in Boao, Hainan Province, China.

The meeting encompassed bilateral discissions on matters concerning PNG and China and their engagement objectives in various areas of partnership such as socio-economic development, security, economic and trade cooperation, and other global issues including climate change and sustainable environmental practices.

The State Counselor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on behalf of the Chinese Government acknowledged the PNG Government for hosting the Chinese President Xi’s state visit in 2018 and also commended PNG for successfully hosting the APEC Leader’s Summit in the same year.

Minister Gang further conveyed Chinese Government’s appreciation to the Government of PNG for their continued support on the “One China” policy. Foreign Minister Gang expressed that the complete closure of PNG Trade Representative Office in Taiwan is a true demonstration of PNG upholding the “One China” principle.

Minister Tkatchenko applauded the State Counselor and Foreign Affairs Minister Qin Gang for the positive remarks and re-assured PNG’s support to the “One China” policy based on their long history of establishment of their diplomatic relations since 1976.

Minister Tkatchenko also confirmed the closure of PNG Trade Representative Office in Taiwan stated the reason that it was mainly a cost-saving measure rather than any other reasons.

More into their bilateral discussions, Foreign Minister Gang re-assured Foreign Minister Tkatchenko that China will continue maintaining good relations with PNG to further strengthen their bilateral partnership in various areas of their engagements. Minister Gang confirmed that China will continue to offer support in implementation of Chinese funded projects in PNG like maintenance of Port Moresby International Convention Centre (ICC), building of teachers’ apartments for the Butuka Academy, the construction of the Taurama Military Hospital, development of the Sir Michael Somare Peace Park and commit to funding and construction of Gerehu Hospital.

Foreign Minister Gang also accepted Minister Tkatchenko’s request to China Government for the construction and renovation of the Taurama Barracks Primary school and construction of police barracks within the National Capital District starting with Badili Police Barracks.
Other areas of discussion include cooperation and collaboration between two countries on disaster management and climate change. Through the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed by PNG and China in 2022, the Chinese Government agreed to assist PNG Government in providing both technical and financial support in responding to natural disasters and negative impacts of climate change.

Both foreign Ministers further emphasized on strengthening people to people links between PNG and China. The Foreign Ministers affirmed that both countries increase people to people exchange for business opportunities and to promote tourism between the two countries through renewing discussions to have direct flights from Port Moresby to Shanghai under the signed PNG – China Air Service Agreement of 2016.

Discussions on security matter brought into light Chinese concerns on developed nations’ influences in developing Pacific Island Countries including Papua New Guinea. Foreign Minister Gang raised concerns on a proposed PNG-Australia Bilateral Security Treaty and affirmed that the purported bilateral security arrangement with Australia was not in some way seeking to counter China’s influence in PNG and the Pacific. He added that China’s presence in the Pacific is not a security threat, but for important purposes like promoting development cooperation and enhance collective efforts in addressing challenges faced by both China and the developing Pacific Island Countries.

Foreign Minister Tkatchenko in his response to the concerns raised by his counterpart Foreign Minister Gang, explained that the proposed Bilateral Security Treaty with Australia is one that will cover broad areas of engagements such as policing, health, security, climate change, gender security, biosecurity amongst other. Foreign Minister Tkatchenko further explained that it will not be solely defense agreement between PNG and Australia, but the one that will focus more on building PNG’s capacities and capabilities to face these security challenges from both external and internal environment.

On the same note, both ministers discussed important matters concerning Japanese Government’s decision to release nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean over a 30-year period. Minister Tkatchenko expressed that the Pacific Island Countries including PNG do not support this activity. This has been voiced in a petition signed by the PNG Parliamentarians to the Japanese Government to hold on their decisions on releasing nuclear-treated water into the Pacific Ocean, and they shall seek other possible solutions on this issue.

Foreign Minister Tkatchenko also mentioned PNG’s Foreign Policy of “Friends to All and Enemy to None”. He said other countries enemies are not PNG’s enemies and that PNG is open to establish bilateral relations with any countries based on its development objectives. He added that PNG value China as an important bilateral partner and affirmed that both countries should continue to build their bilateral relation on trust.