The president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, John Momis, has hit back at criticism of his government's links with China.
Bougainville has recently completed a joint venture arrangement to export its agricultural produce directly to China to ensure better returns.
Mr Momis says comments published last week in the Post Courier newspaper accused him and his ministers of signing the deals for their personal benefit - accusations the president roundly rejects.
He calls the claims irresponsible.
"It is done in a transparent way, we have no hidden agenda and this sort of allegation is coming I am sure definitely from people who have had failed and corrupt deals with foreigners before, which my government is determined to stop."
