Papua New Guinea PM warns Opposition not to ‘play politics’ with China visit

By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Papua New Guinea’s prime minister warned the Opposition to not “play politics” with the go to of China’s international minister amid an election marketing campaign, noting China is a significant commerce associate and the most important purchaser of the Pacific nation’s fuel exports.

China’s Overseas Minister Wang Yi met with Prime Minister James Marape on Friday, after signing agreements together with his counterpart, within the ultimate days of an eight-nation tour.

China was unable to achieve consensus from 10 Pacific island nations for a sweeping regional pact on safety and commerce at a gathering on Monday. A number of nations mentioned it was too rushed they usually wished to seek the advice of the broader area, the place some nations have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and never Beijing.

Nonetheless, Wang struck a collection of bilateral offers on infrastructure, fisheries, commerce and police tools on his tour, and officers say discussions over a regional pact will proceed.

Chinese language state media outlet Xinhua this week reported Beijing wished growing nations to affix its new “International Safety Initiative” though particulars have been scant.

The USA, Australia and New Zealand have expressed concern over Beijing’s ambitions for a larger safety and policing presence within the Pacific, after it struck a safety pact with Solomon Islands.

In a letter to different Pacific leaders final month, Federated States of Micronesia warned a multilateral pact with China may convey “Chilly Battle” to the area.

In a digital assembly together with his Federated States of Micronesia counterpart on Thursday, Wang mentioned China wasn’t increasing its navy into the Pacific however specializing in financial improvement.

“The information over almost half a century have proved that the exchanges between China and (Pacific island nations) didn’t and won’t have an effect on regional safety and stability,” he mentioned, based on a Chinese language international ministry assertion on Friday.

‘FRIENDS TO ALL’

Administered by Australia till 1975 and its nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea is strategically positioned and wealthy in sources however largely undeveloped.

Papua New Guinea had a international coverage of “mates to all and enemies to none”, Prime Minister Marape mentioned in an announcement.

“China is the key purchaser of our produce, and we’ll have interaction with them extra in commerce and commerce, in addition to different elements of our bilateral relationship going into the longer term,” he mentioned.

China buys over 50% of all of the fuel produced in Papua New Guinea and “have given an enterprise to purchase further fuel”, he mentioned.

Marape hit again at former prime minister Peter O’Neill, who’s working for the highest job and who criticised the timing of Wang’s go to as being inappropriate and warned no offers needs to be signed.

“The previous prime minister is aware of very effectively to not play politics with the go to of a world chief to our nation,” Marape mentioned.

TONGA SHARES ‘RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY’

Australia’s Overseas Minister Penny Wong arrived in Tonga on Friday to focus on the brand new Australian authorities’s commitments on local weather change, in her second journey to the area since being sworn in final week.

“We aren’t a authorities or nation that wishes to return in and inform you what to do,” mentioned Wong, who visited Samoa on Thursday and pledged a brand new coastguard patrol vessel.

Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, who signed six agreements with China on Tuesday, instructed a joint media convention Tonga and Australia shared “respect for democracy and rule of regulation and the rights and freedoms of others”.

Australian help has been essential in Tonga’s historical past, and can proceed within the precedence areas of schooling, well being, defence, commerce, policing and democratic governance, he mentioned.

Tonga has exterior debt of $195 million or 35.9 p.c of its GDP, of which two-thirds is owed to China’s Export-Import Financial institution, its finances reveals.

Sovaleni instructed reporters on Wednesday the debt had been mentioned through the Chinese language international minister’s go to, and Tonga will proceed to make repayments.

Australia has provided to extend work alternatives for Tongans in Australia, and export alternatives, he added.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Modifying by Lincoln Feast.)