China's top diplomat Wang Yi has taken a swipe at the geo-political jostling for influence in the Pacific, saying Pacific Island countries aren't "the backyard of any major country".
The foreign minister made the remark during a visit to Papua New Guinea, where he held bilateral talks with his PNG counterpart and provided grant funding for PNG's disaster relief efforts.
The trip comes just days before Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives in Port Moresby to walk the Kokoda Track in a symbolic visit highlighting the shared wartime history of Australia and PNG.
Mr Wang was last in PNG in 2022, during a regional visit where China unsuccessfully sought a regional security and trade deal.
China has however signed major security and policing agreements with PNG's neighbour, Solomon Islands, which caused considerable consternation within Canberra.
The Australian government then secured a bilateral security agreement with Papua New Guinea late last year.
Amid speculation, PNG's foreign minister, Justin Tkatchenko, told his Australian counterparts earlier this year that PNG was not pursuing any security agreement with China.
In a press conference following the bilateral meeting, where no questions were allowed, Mr Wang urged for the "non-interference in the domestic affairs of Pacific Island countries".
"Pacific Island countries have a right to invite friendly cooperation with all development partners," he said.
"Both China and Pacific Island countries are members of the global south and are developing countries.
"It is honest and open of our two sides to help each other.
"Pacific Island countries are the home of the people in this region, they are not the backyard of any major country."
Original story : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-21/wang-yi-visits-papua-new-guinea/103749806
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