Chinese Vice-President Meets PNG FM

Chinese Vice-President Meets PNG FM

Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that China is willing to develop mutually beneficial and friendly relations with Papua New Guinea (PNG) on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence in the 21st century.

Hu made the remarks in a meeting with John Kaputin, foreign minister of Papua New Guinea.

Noting the fact that PNG is one of the first countries in south Pacific to establish diplomatic relations with China, Hu said that bilateral relations have been developing vigorously since the two countries forged diplomatic relations 24 years ago.

The two countries have had wide-ranging and fruitful cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, he said. China and Papua New Guinea are both developing countries and located in the Asia-Pacific region, the vice-president said, they have much shared interests in regional and international affairs.

To consolidate and expand bilateral relations is in the long-term and fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, he said.

Kaputin, who is on his fourth China visit, said that the visit has provided the two countries with an opportunity to promote existing friendly relations, adding that the Papua New Guinean government and people highly value their friendship with China, and thank the Chinese government for its economic and technological assistance.

He reiterated that his government will continue to pursue the one-China policy, and support the Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan issue, and promote relations with China.

The Chinese vice-president also briefed Kaputin on the Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan issue, and appreciated the Papua New Guinean government's adherence to the one-China policy.