Papua New Guinea to be a staunch partner to China, says PM

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met on Wednesday with Papua New Guinean (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, with the two in Guangzhou for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum.

Wang said China appreciates Papua New Guinea's long adherence to the one-China policy and will work with the country on the Belt and Road Initiative.

China will continue to offer assistance to Papua New Guinea and support it to host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2018, Wang said.

O'Neill said his country will continue to uphold the one-China policy and be a staunch partner to China.

Papua New Guinea signed a series of infrastructure deals with China as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative in November 2017.

"As this (Belt and Road) Initiative grows we are seeing infrastructure improvements across many developing countries," a statement from Prime Minister Peter O'Neill's office read. The statement was released by PNG on November 20.

Wang Yang also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who paid a visit to China on Sunday.

(CGTN)