Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, says recent talks with the President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao, centred on the "strong and growing" relations between the two developing nations.
He said the China/PNG bilateral relationship has developed over 31 years and they are good development partners.
Trade between both nations in 2006 totalled US$500m. and in the first half of
this year, trade recorded was already US$350m.
Before leaving for the APEC Summit, the Prime Minister met the head of CMCC,
the operator of the Ramu nickel mine.
The Ramu Nickel project, which is is expected to reach production by 2009 is the single largest Chinese investment in the Pacific region.
Apart from the resource sector, China's assistance to PNG is in the areas of agriculture, health, and defence.
