On the afternoon of October 19, 2003, President Hu Jintao met with Papua New Guinean Premier Somare in Bangkok. Hu said Chinese and PNG peoples had enjoyed long-running friendship, noting that the recent years had witnessed smooth development of bilateral relations, thanks to the joint efforts of both countries. He went on to say that there had been constant exchange of high-level contacts and the two countries had conducted economic and trade cooperation, with good results, adding that PNG had become China's largest trading partner among the island countries in southern Pacific region and the two countries had had close cooperation in regional and international organizations such as the Forum of Southern Pacific Nations, APEC and the UN.
Hu told Somare that the Chinese government attached great importance to its relations with PNG and would like to make joint efforts with the PNG side to continue to deepen bilateral political trust, adding that the two countries should further explore new means, ways and areas for the expansion of bilateral economic and trade cooperation in a bid to constantly push forward bilateral relations.
Somare said PNG would stick to the One China policy and would actively develop its friendly cooperation with China. Noting that bilateral economic relations and trade had progressed very rapidly, he thanked the Chinese friends for their selfless assistance to the economic and social development of PNG over the years, which he hailed as a manifestation of bilateral friendship. He said PNG would explore cooperation areas together with China, adding that Chinese enterprises were welcome to take part in the exploitation of natural gas in PNG.
-------------------------------- it will happen...very soon, imho
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