(29 Mar 2023)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boao, China - 29 March 2023
1. Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko speaking with reporter
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister:
“Other countries’ enemies are not our enemies, and we work on the policy of working with everyone. We have a very strong and traditional relationship with Australia and New Zealand, and we will keep it so, and likewise with, since independence, with China. So it is concerning, when we see the issues that come up, especially with the US and China. I think Australia and China are making inroads to heal some of the wounds, and with the new Labor government, that is already seeing signs of that happening.”
3. Close of Tkatchenko's speaking
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister:
“For China to move around in the Pacific, and to help and assist in the Pacific, I don’t see it as an issue, I don’t see it as an issue. I don’t think it’s an issue or worry people should get overreacting on personally. They’re not gonna come in and take over the Pacific, it’s not going to happen. They’re a good friend, we work with them on a professional basis, and as partnerships.”
5. Tkatchenko speaking with reporter
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister:
“For Papua New Guinea, we’ve got no debt with China as such. We’re fairly good, we’ve managed it very, very well, we deal with the IMF, the World Bank, with our loans, with our support, to manage it properly, and our treasurer and our government are working on that for the last three years now. I mean, if we do need to get more assistance, that will be something the government will have a look at, but at this point in time, it's OK.”
7. Tkatchenko leaving Boao Forum venue
STORYLINE:
Papua New Guinea's foreign minister said on Wednesday his country will maintain its ties with "good friend" China, but disputes between Beijing and the United States remained "concerning".
“Other countries’ enemies are not our enemies,” said Justin Tkatchenko, adding PNG also wanted to keep its "traditional" close links with Australia and New Zealand.
Tkatchenko spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia, held on the tropic island of Hainan in southern China.
His comments come amid growing tensions between China and the United States in the Pacific, as Washington pushes back at Beijing’s growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway it claims virtually in its entirety.
Tkatchenko said Papua New Guinea was not concerned about China’s territorial claims in the region.
“For China to move around in the Pacific, and to help and assist in the Pacific, I don’t see it as an issue,” Tkatchenko said.
US officials have also pushed back at China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which expands trade by building ports and other facilities across Asia and Africa.
The US has claimed that the initiative traps developing countries in debt.
China has said it is willing to renegotiate loans and that they are trying to promote global development.
Tkatchenko added that Papua New Guinea has support from the IMF, the World Bank and that the government along with the treasury department are working on the country's finances.
AP video shot by Dake Kang
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