00:00A warm greeting and a sign of a growing friendship.
00:11China's top diplomat Wang Yi is no stranger to PNG.
00:16On his fourth visit, he's intent on deepening economic ties.
00:21My dear foreign minister, welcome back to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and thank you
00:26for coming.
00:28Agreements signed after the meeting will allow PNG to more readily export to China
00:33key products like cocoa and coffee beans.
00:37This is a huge success, minister.
00:40This will allow the opportunity now to access one of the biggest markets in the world.
00:46Amid jostling for geopolitical influence in the region, Minister Wang urged for non-interference.
00:53Pacific island countries are the home of the people in this region.
00:56They are not the backyard of any major country.
01:01China has been less than open about its own security and policing deals with the neighbouring
01:06Solomon Islands.
01:08Minister Wang also took aim at the AUKUS partnership.
01:12Instigating division is not in line with the urgent needs of Pacific island countries.
01:18The barbs come just before Prime Minister Albanese returns to Papua New Guinea, this
01:23time for a four-day visit where he and PNG Prime Minister James Marape will walk a section
01:29of the Kokoda Track in the lead-up to Anzac Day.
01:32The Anzac spirit is as much as ours, as much as it is Australian and Nigerian.
01:39These few days are quite reflective of Papua New Guinea's position.
01:42It sees China as an increasingly vital partner to empower its economy and improve living
01:49standards.
01:50When the Australian and Papua New Guinean Prime Ministers walk the Kokoda Track together
01:54from Tuesday, it will bring into sharp focus the shared military and security history that
02:00underpins the relationship.
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