Premier Li meets Papua New Guinean prime minister

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who is attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday met with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who is attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

Li said China is willing to align the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with PNG's development strategies, expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields, accelerate the joint feasibility study on the bilateral free trade agreement, and better achieve mutual benefits.

China hopes that PNG will play a constructive leading role among the Pacific island countries and promote the deepening of the overall relations between China and the Pacific island countries, Li said.

O'Neill thanked China for its support for PNG's development and praised the BRI which has been a strong boost for PNG's development.

PNG adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to enhance cooperation in economy, trade and investment with China, O'Neill said, adding that PNG will work hard to complete negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement and jointly enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

After the meeting, they witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two sides.