O'Neill received a courtesy call on Friday from China's Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, HE Xue Bing, where they discussed development issues of mutual importance and the upcoming visit by China's President during the APEC Summit in November 2018.

 

"Papua New Guinea remains firmly committed to our One-China Policy, and growing the friendship that was established with diplomatic relations in 1976," O'Neill said. 

 

"The strength of our bilateral relationship is based on respect and a common interest in economic and community development.

 

"Papua New Guinea and China have a Strategic Partnership of Mutual Cooperation and Common Development that provides a basis for advancing projects that enhance the standard of living in communities.

 

"People-to-people engagement is also vital to growing our friendship, and we are seeing increased travel between our two countries.

 

"When direct air links are established between Port Moresby and Shanghai later this year, we will have even more opportunities to strengthen business and education exchange.

 

"Direct flights will also open up more opportunities for Chinese tourists to visit Papua New Guinea in the years and decades to come."

 

"Through the APEC year we will receive more than 1000 delegates from China culminating with the state visit by President Xi Jinping during the APEC Summit.

 

"This will be the first visit by China's President and will mark a new chapter in cooperation and business between our countries.

 

"Our government and people look forward to welcoming President Xi to Papua New Guinea, and giving him and his delegation the opportunity to see the diversity of our country and the development taking place."

 

O'Neill thanked Ambassador Xue for his cooperation on projects inclduing support for building the West Pacific University, work to prepare the National Convention Centre for APEC, and the range of ongoing projects in rural communities around the country.