Papua New Guinea leader warns Opposition not to 'play politics' with China visit

Nonetheless, Wang struck a series of bilateral deals on infrastructure, fisheries, trade and police equipment on his tour, and officials say discussions over a regional pact will continue. Chinese state media outlet Xinhua this week reported Beijing wanted developing countries to join its new "Global Security Initiative" although details have been scant.

Papua New Guinea's prime minister warned the Opposition not to "play politics" with the visit of China's foreign minister amid an election campaign, noting China is a major trade partner and the biggest buyer of the Pacific nation's gas exports. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Prime Minister James Marape on Friday, after signing agreements with his counterpart, in the final days of an eight-nation tour.

China was unable to gain consensus from 10 Pacific island nations for a sweeping regional pact on security and trade at a meeting on Monday. Several nations said it was too rushed and they wanted to consult the broader region, where some countries have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not Beijing. Nonetheless, Wang struck a series of bilateral deals on infrastructure, fisheries, trade, and police equipment on his tour, and officials say discussions over a regional pact will continue.

Chinese state media outlet Xinhua this week reported Beijing wanted developing countries to join its new "Global Security Initiative" although details have been scant. The United States, Australia, and New Zealand have expressed concern over Beijing's ambitions for greater security and policing presence in the Pacific after it struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in Tonga on Friday to highlight the new Australian government's commitments on climate change, in her second trip to the region since being sworn in last week. "We are not a government or country that wants to come in and tell you what to do," said Wong, who visited Samoa on Thursday and pledged a new coastguard patrol vessel.

Administered by Australia until 1975 and its nearest neighbor, Papua New Guinea is strategically positioned and rich in resources but largely undeveloped. Papua New Guinea had a foreign policy of "friends to all and enemies to none", Prime Minister Marape said in a statement.

"China is the major buyer of our products, and we will engage with them more in commerce and trade, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relationship going into the future," he said. China buys over 50% of all the gas produced in Papua New Guinea and "has given an undertaking to buy additional gas", he said. Marape hit back at former prime minister Peter O'Neill, who is running for the top job and who criticized the timing of Wang's visit as being inappropriate and warned no deals should be signed.

"The former prime minister knows very well not to play politics with the visit of an international leader to our country," Marape said. TONGA SHARES 'RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY'

Tonga's Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, who signed six agreements with China on Tuesday, thanked Wong on Friday for Australia's swift response to a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in January. Tonga and Australia share "respect for democracy and rule of law and the rights and freedoms of others and this remains the important tenets of our relations," he told a media conference.

Australian aid has been crucial in Tonga's history and will continue in the priority areas of education, health, defense, trade, policing, and democratic governance, he said. Tonga has an external debt of $195 million or 35.9 percent of its GDP, of which two-thirds is owed to China's Export-Import Bank, its budget shows.

Sovaleni told reporters on Wednesday the debt had been discussed during the Chinese foreign minister's visit, and Tonga will continue to make repayments. Australia has offered to increase work opportunities for Tongans in Australia, and export opportunities, he added.

 

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