PORT MORESBY — Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape met with visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on June 3, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen bilateral relations and expand pragmatic cooperation.

Marape said his country thinks highly of China for making remarkable achievements in its development, realizing poverty alleviation goals as scheduled, and improving its people's livelihood, noting that PNG fully agrees that developing countries also have the legitimate right to develop.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has extensively benefited developing countries including PNG, the prime minister said, while thanking China for its tremendous support in helping his country to accelerate development, particularly in infrastructure.

Important consensuses are being implemented by the two sides, and the two countries have established strong political ties and close economic and trade links, Marape said. He reaffirmed his country's adherence to the one-China policy, saying that a friendly relationship with China has become a consensus among all sectors in PNG.

PNG has learned from China to establish special economic zones, and has yielded positive results, Marape said, noting that his country will continue to deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation, expedite a free trade agreement with China, and provide convenience to Chinese investment in PNG.

Praising PNG as a frontrunner in regional development as well as an engine for China-Pacific island countries cooperation, Wang said during the meeting that bilateral relations have withstood the test of international vicissitudes, with solid mutual trust established between the two countries.

The Chinese side appreciates PNG for fully understanding and staunchly supporting China in safeguarding its core interests. China will firmly stand with PNG on the regional and international arenas, and backs the Pacific island country seeking a development path suited to its national conditions, Wang said.

China will always be a reliable friend and good partner of PNG, he added.

The China-PNG cooperation has shown great vitality, which features development of all dimensions, in various fields and at different levels, Wang said.

China is ready to further synergize the respective development strategies with the PNG, and support the Pacific island country in establishing special economic zones, developing processing industries and expediting its industrialization, so as to strengthen self-development, he said.

China is willing to share development opportunities with PNG and welcome the export of more quality PNG products to the Chinese market, Wang said.

Both sides agreed to increase cultural exchanges and form stronger bond between the two peoples. Noting that China is a member of the "Pacific family", Marape said the Pacific Ocean binds the PNG and Chinese people together and PNG will continue pursuing a friendly policy toward China.

Wang encouraged more youths from the two countries to contribute to bilateral relations and friendship, and pass on their friendship from generation to generation.

PNG is the seventh leg of Wang's current tour to Pacific island countries starting from May 26, with Timor Leste as the last stop. Before arriving in Port Moresby, he visited the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.