| Hu Jintao Meets with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Somare |
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| Friday,April 24,2009 Posted: 09:08 BJT(0108 GMT) |
| From:驻巴布亚新几内亚使馆经商处 Article type:Original |
On April 14, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Thomas Somare, who is here for an official visit and to attend the 2009 meeting of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) in south China's Hainan province.
In their meeting, Hu said bilateral relations have made significant progress since both countries forged diplomatic ties in 1976, citing frequent high-level visits, deep political trust and fruitful cooperation in all fields. Hu appreciated Papua New Guinea's unswerving adherence to the one-China policy and support for China's peaceful reunification.
Hu said Papua New Guinea was an important Pacific island country and played a crucial role in regional affairs. Hu said China has always attached importance to ties with Papua New Guinea and regarded Papua New Guinea as a good friend and partner in pacific islands. China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Papua New Guinea, deepen pragmatic cooperation, expand people-to-people and cultural contacts and strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, in an effort to push for long-term sound, steady development of bilateral ties. On the economic front, Hu said both countries were complementary and had a broad prospect for cooperation. Hu said the Chinese government encouraged and supported Chinese businesses to invest and operate in Papua New Guinea. He proposed both countries step up mutually-beneficial cooperation in key areas such as trade, agriculture, forestry, fishery, telecommunications, transportation, resources and energy for the benefit of both countries and their peoples.
Somare said Papua New Guinea cherished and gave top priority to its friendly and cooperative relations with China, which was a sincere and reliable partner. Somare said his country respected China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and adhered to the one-China policy. Since both countries forged diplomatic ties in 1976, bilateral relations have been expanding and deepening, said Somare, citing frequent high-level visits, rapidly growing trade relations and close contacts at all levels. He thanked China for offering disinterested assistance to his country for many years. He said his country would like to work more closely with China on trade, energy, resources and construction.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other officials attended the meeting.
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Bilateral Visits