CIDCA chairman visits Papua New Guinea

Chen Xiaodong, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), visited Papua New Guinea from Nov 3 to 5. He met with the country's Prime Minister James Marape and had talks with Ano Pala, minister for national planning and monitoring.

Chen Xiaodong, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, meets Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape.

Chen Xiaodong holds talks with Papua New Guinea's Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Ano Pala.

Chen noted that Papua New Guinea is a good friend, good partner and good brother of China in the Pacific island region. He emphasized that under the strategic guidance and personal efforts of the leaders of China and Papua New Guinea, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has kept moving forward, with political mutual trust deepened, fruitful outcomes across diverse cooperation areas reaped and people-to-people exchanges becoming closer.

Chen underscored that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He said that the CIDCA stands ready to work with Papua New Guinea to deliver on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen alignment of development strategies, coordinately advance landmark projects and "small yet smart" livelihood projects, and strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, green development and response to El Niño impacts. Such efforts will ensure that development cooperation outcomes better benefit the peoples of both countries, Chen added.

The Papua New Guinea side said that the nation values its relations with China, cherishes the profound friendship between them and will firmly abide by the one-China principle. They expressed gratitude to China for its long-standing valuable support for the country's economic and social development and the improvement of its people's well-being.

They expressed the expectation that Papua New Guinea will take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to work closely with China to deepen pragmatic development cooperation and continuously advance bilateral relations.

During the visit, Chen also engaged in on-site surveys of multiple cooperation projects, including the Papua New Guinea International Convention Center, the digital TV upgrade project of the National Broadcasting Corporation and the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Chen Xiaodong conducts on-site surveys of cooperation projects.