Friendly relations between China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples and the trend of world peace and development, said Chinese President Jiang Zemin during a meeting yesterday with PNG Prime Minister Mekere Morauta.
"Leaders of the two countries should proceed from the fundamental interests of the two nations and enhance bilateral co-operation, in a bid to bring friendly co-operative relations between China and PNG to a new high," Jiang said.
Jiang first met Morauta during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Informal Leadership Meeting in Auckland in September 1999.
China-PNG relations have been going well and have yielded significant results since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 25 years ago, Jiang said, noting that bilateral exchanges and co-operation have been enhanced in trade and economic sectors as well as culture and education.
As developing nations, China and PNG are both dedicated to economic development and the improvement of public living standards, Jiang said. "Co-operation will benefit the peoples of both countries and will contribute to South-South co-operation if we expand trade and economic co-operation on the basis of mutual understanding, trust, equality and reciprocity," he said.
Morauta voiced his pleasure at visiting China just before the 25th anniversary of Sino-PNG diplomatic ties, saying that he is happy to see that PNG-China relations are going "unprecedentedly well."
He conveyed to Jiang the best regards of the PNG Government and people, saying that the PNG Government is willing to make further efforts to enhance friendly co-operative relations with China.
Morauta reiterated the PNG Government's adherence to the one-China policy. He also voiced support for China's entry to the World Trade Organization at an early date.
Morauta arrived in China early yesterday for a week-long official visit to China as a guest of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.
(Xinhua 05/29/2001)
