Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea: Strong relationship between China and PICs provides great opportunity

Photo taken on July 5, 2023 shows Peter O’Neil taking questions from journalists at the Center for China & Globalization in Beijing.(Photo provided by CCG)

On July 5, 2023, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, delivered a speech and engaged in dialogue at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) in Beijing. The discussion focused on the cooperation between China, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific Island countries in the 21st century.

China and the Pacific Island countries (PICs) have a long history of friendly exchanges, expanding communication and cooperation in over twenty areas since establishing diplomatic relations in the 1970s. Papua New Guinea, a resource-rich and culturally diverse country located in the southwestern Pacific, highly values its cooperation with China. The deepened economic relations between the two nations include Papua New Guinea's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the signing of capacity-building cooperation agreements.

Former Prime Minister O'Neill emphasized the importance of China's experience in dealing with population migration, poverty alleviation, and the construction of education and healthcare systems for hundreds of millions of people. Papua New Guinea, with similar advantage in population, can learn from China's modernization process to overcome its challenges. He stressed the need to break free from geopolitical influences and pursue broader cooperation with China, aiming for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. During the dialogue session, O'Neill discussed the cultural exchanges between China and Papua New Guinea, the challenges posed by population growth, China-PNG economic cooperation, and the future of the Pacific Island region. He highlighted the positive role that the Chinese community in Papua New Guinea can play in promoting bilateral cooperation.

The former prime minister also acknowledged the significant assistance provided by the Belt and Road Initiative in developing infrastructure in the Pacific Island countries. He noted that both China and Papua New Guinea can benefit economically from the construction projects in the region. O'Neill emphasized the importance of overcoming geopolitical influences and focusing on sustainable development goals through measures like fishing restrictions and environmental protection.

The dialogue between Peter O'Neill and CCG provided a platform to explore the potential for cooperation between China, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific Island countries. The exchange emphasized the importance of learning from China's experiences and focusing on sustainable development goals while navigating geopolitical influences. By fostering a broader partnership, the aim is to achieve peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.