On May 28, President Jiang Zemin met with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Mekere Morauta in a friendly atmosphere at Zhongnanhai. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on furthering the friendly cooperation in all areas between the two countries.

Jiang first extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Mekere Morauta. He recalled his meeting and friendly talks with Morauta during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Informal Leadership Meeting in Auckland in September 1999, saying that he is extremely happy to meet Morauta again in Beijing. Jiang wished his visit a great success.

Jiang said that during the 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and PNG, bilateral relations have been developing rapidly with remarkable achievements. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation have been enhanced in the trade and economic sectors as well as culture and education. There exist great potential and broad prospects for further developing the bilateral relations.  

As developing nations, China and PNG are both dedicated to economic development and improvement in people's living standards. It will benefit the peoples of the two countries and will contribute to South-South cooperation if the two sides expand trade and economic cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding, trust, equality and mutual benefit.

The friendly relations between China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples and the trend of world peace and development. Leaders of the two countries, proceeding from the strategic point of view and the fundamental interests of the two nations, should strengthen their bilateral cooperation so as to push the friendly cooperative relations between China and PNG to a new high.

Morauta said that he was glad to pay this formal visit to China, a friendly country and he brought with him cordial greetings and good wishes of the PNG government and people.

Morauta said that his visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of Sino-PNG diplomatic ties and he is happy to see PNG-China relations are going well. The PNG government is willing to make further efforts to enhance the friendly cooperative relations with China so that such relations will be deeply rooted in the two peoples.

Morauta reiterated the PNG government's adherence to the one China policy, saying that the PNG government will never have any official relations with Taiwan. He also expressed support for China's entry to the World Trade Organization at an early date.