PNG to host China, Australia high-level visits
China's foreign minister is expected to sign an economic co-operation deal on a visit to Papua New Guinea just days before Australia's prime minister arrives to mark historical defence ties by walking a famous World War II trail.
The high-level visits underscore the competition between China and US allies for influence in the strategically located Pacific Islands.
Papua New Guinea sees itself as a buffer between Asia and the Pacific Ocean, and is balancing trade ties with China and a defence deal that gives the US military access to its ports and airports.
Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi would arrive on Saturday for a two-day visit.
Officials have been working to finalise economic co-operation agreements to be signed during Wang's visit, Tkatchenko said in a statement on Thursday.
PNG earlier in 2024 ruled out police co-operation with China after Beijing offered to assist its police force.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit PNG to commemorate ANZAC Day by walking a section of the remote Kokoda Track used by Australian soldiers and PNG's "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" during World War II.
Albanese will arrive in PNG a few days earlier, and travel to Isurava on April 25 for the traditional dawn service, Tkatchenko said in a separate statement.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape would walk on the Kokoda Track with Albanese, he said.
Albanese said on Friday he was spending Anzac Day on the Kokoda Track to "show my respect to the remarkable effort to protect our nation at one of its darkest hours".
PNG signed a $A200 million security deal with Australia last year to boost policing, after signing a defence co-operation agreement with the United States in May 2023.
