Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Justin W. Tkatchenko commenced his six-day Bilateral Visit to the People’s Republic of China today, Tuesday 28 March 2023 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
Foreign Minister Tkatchenko visited the Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited company where the company and its executive management showcased its numerous products including Chinese medicines, botanical drugs, chemical raw materials and other processed Chinese items like the famous Wong Lo Kat Tea generally referred to as the Chinese coca cola.
Following that, Foreign Minister Tkatchenko went on to meet with the Governor of Guangdong Province and Deputy Party Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Committee, Mr. Wang Weizhong.
Governor Wang welcomed Foreign Minister Tkatchenko to China and more so to Guangdong Province. Governor Wang acknowledged Guangdong Province and Papua New Guinea’s substantial cooperation over the years since PNG and China established diplomatic relations in 1976.
Also, Governor Wang reiterated that the bilateral relation’s steady growth albeit COVID-19’s negative impacts, the establishment of sister city relations like Shenzhen and PNG’s National Capital District has enhanced cooperation in different areas such as Energy, Infrastructure development, Education, Health and cultural exchanges.
In addition, Governor Wang maintained that there are a number of Guangdong companies in PNG and that the Guangdong Provincial Government encourages more investment and trade into PNG, with a provincial GDP rate of US$1.9 trillion, there is much more that Guangdong Province can do in terms of providing valuable investment, trade and experience into PNG. Governor Wang also invited Papua New Guinea to showcase its trade products at the 133rd China Import and Export Fair also known as the Canton Fair from 3 April to 15 May 2023.
Foreign Minister Tkatchenko acknowledged and conveyed his appreciation to Governor Wang and his Provincial Government for the warm welcome accorded to him since his arrival into Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. He also maintained that Guangdong and PNG have maintained excellent bilateral relations in the past decade that has translated into tangible outcomes.
One such excellent example highlighted by Foreign Minister Tkatchenko was the Butuka Academy built by China Steel company established in his Moresby South electorate where it has become a school of excellence and registers up to 3, 800 students every year. Whereby after 3 years of its establishment, most of the students in the academy are fluent mandarin speakers. Butuka Academy has become a success story on its own whereby the concept is now being carefully reviewed by the PNG Government to be also introduced in other parts of PNG.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister also acknowledged the different five areas where Governor Wang had indicated Guangdong’s support to PNG and that the PNG Government further looked to support further initiatives such as the Ramu Hydro project and others. In addition, Foreign Minister Tkatchenko forwarded an interest for establishment of sister-city relations between Guangzhou and Lae city to which Governor Wang responded positively.
Finally, Foreign Minister Tkatchenko visited the Chimelong Group in Guangzhou whereby he looked forward to progressing positive relations with the latter in the area of animal exchange as well as people to people now that the Chinese Government opened its borders for international travel earlier this year.
Foreign Minister Tkatchenko will also participate in the Boao Forum for Development in Hainan Province later this week as well as meet up with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Counsellor of China, H.E Qin Gang to further the bilateral relations between the countries along the discussing the preparations for the Official Visit of Prime Minister Marape to China later this year.
Foreign Minister Tkatchenko will conclude his Bilateral visit in Shenzhen where he will discuss with the Shenzhen Municipal Government of student exchange programs as well as other areas of cooperation in energy and trade.
