China

VIDEO: PNG committed to China

Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, says PNG will remain committed to the one China Policy.

Trump keen to meet Kim after 'successful' China talks

But Mr Trump said maximum sanctions and pressure on North Korea would continue ahead of proposed talks in May.

He added that denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was now a possibility.

The comments follow Mr Kim's meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, in his first known foreign trip since taking office in 2011.

Mr Kim and his wife were greeted with a banquet and a guard of honour, with the North Korean leader reportedly saying he was committed to denuclearisation. China is North Korea's main economic ally.

NZ not competing with China in Pacific

On Monday, Ardern pledged the government would dedicate almost $10 million in aid and support for Samoa.

She told Morning Report that regardless of what other countries were doing, New Zealand should exercise its duties and responsibilities as partners and friends in the Pacific.

K8 billion trade volume in 2017

This was revealed by Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Yao Ming.

He said economic cooperation between PNG and China has grown over the last few years since the state visit by Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, in 2016.

Since then trade has increased under the guidance of both countries leaders.

“Bi-lateral relations between both countries have proceeded very well and fast, especially in the area of economic cooperation, our two countries trade volume reachedUS$2.8 billion in 2017,” said Deputy Ambassador Ming.

China maintains commitment to PNG

An understanding between the PNG Government and China in 2002 has seen a continued support in addressing specialised equipment, manpower and facilities in the country. 

There has since been at least 8 specialised medical teams to the country to date and a service that has reached almost 100,000 patients in PNG.

Port Moresby General Hospital is one big recipient from this partnership, enabling better service to the population.

CEO Dr Umesh Gupta, who took over the office in 2014, says over this time, he has seen great development.

Australian Minister accuses China of funding 'roads that go nowhere' in Pacific

Australian officials are increasingly worried by China's growing presence in the Pacific, and the way it is using concessional loans to bolster its influence.

They have also privately accused China of trying to win favour by funding projects which funnel money directly to leaders in the region.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells told The Australian newspaper that China was constructing "useless buildings" in the Pacific.

US blocks sale of Moneygram to China's Ant Financial

It is the highest profile Chinese deal to be rejected by Washington since Donald Trump came to power.

Regulators overseeing foreign investments in the US had refused to support the takeover, the firms said.

The geopolitical environment had "changed considerably" since the merger was announced last year, they added.

'Disappointed'

The collapse is a blow to the ambitions of Alibaba's billionaire executive chairman Jack Ma, who had promised President Trump that he would create a million US jobs.

Skype removed from China Apple and Android app stores

Apple says it is one of several apps to have been removed after the government said it does not comply with local law.

Skype owner Microsoft told the BBC the app had been "temporarily removed" and the company was "working to reinstate the app as soon as possible".

The app is also no longer available for download on Android app stores in China.

Media reports suggest the disruption to Skype started in October.

Increased meth production in China aimed at Oceania

The head of the secretariat, Seve Paeniu, said it believed this stems from a significant increase in production in China, driven by demand for the drug in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Paeniu said countries in Micronesia and Melanesia were also experiencing an increase in the use of methamphetamines, with a resulting rise in criminal acitivity and accompanying societal issues.

He said efforts to combat the trend had uncovered both local and foreign involvement in the illegal trade alongside the increase in criminals being deported in the region.

Security a concern for Tourism

Speaking at the Ready China Workshop on Wednesday, Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to PNG Liu Linlin, said PNG can offer Chinese Tourists new experiences from the rest of the world.

However, this can only be achievable if PNG improves its security issue.

Counsellor Linlin informed tourism stakeholders today that millions of Chinese tourists have travelled various parts of the world and are continually looking for new experiences.

He said PNG offers that however several key areas need to be addressed. The most important being security.