China and Papua New Guinea Pledge to Strengthen Bilateral Practical Cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, on Thursday in Xiamen, as part of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting underscored the deepening partnership between China and Papau New Guinea (PNG), highlighting their historical ties and shared aspirations for regional development.

Wang Yi lauded the enduring friendship and cooperation built over decades between the two countries. He called the relationship "a valuable asset forged across mountains and seas and tested by time." Both leaders agreed that the partnership has evolved to make China and PNG trusted friends, reliable partners in development, and close brothers in international affairs.

As PNG celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence this year, next year will also mark half a century since China and PNG established diplomatic relations. Wang encouraged both sides to reflect on the successes of the past fifty years and jointly plan for an even more robust future together.

Looking ahead, Wang Yi advocated for the early commencement of bilateral free trade agreement negotiations and emphasized the need to fully implement existing consensus reached by the two nations’ leaders. He also commended the outcomes of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting, noting it achieved a new consensus on building a community with a shared future among China and Pacific Island nations.

He specifically highlighted PNG's unique strategic position in the South Pacific and as a gateway to Asia. Wang reaffirmed China’s willingness to work hand-in-hand with PNG and other Pacific Island countries to put the meeting’s agreements into action, with the goal of fostering regional peace and sustainable development.

Minister Tkatchenko reaffirmed PNG’s strong commitment to the one-China policy, pledging continued support for China’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He expressed enthusiasm for deeper engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative and underscored the value of practical collaboration across sectors such as agriculture, education, telecommunications, energy, and local development, all aimed at supporting PNG’s long-term sustainable growth.

Wang expressed appreciation for PNG's unyielding support of the one-China principle. He pointed out Xiamen’s proximity to Taiwan’s Kinmen Island, stressing that "no one longs for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits more earnestly than we do." He reiterated that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, calling this not just an historical fact but a present reality.

The Chinese foreign minister emphasized that national reunification is a long-standing aspiration of the Chinese nation and an irreversible historical trend. He strongly denounced any "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, characterizing them as unconstitutional, contrary to the United Nations Charter, and against the global consensus on the one-China principle. According to Wang, these separatist moves would be opposed by the international community.

Thursday’s meeting signaled the continuing momentum in China-PNG relations and a shared dedication to enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the Pacific region, echoing both countries’ commitments to mutual respect, economic progress, and regional stability.