China

However, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Pila Niningi, is appealing to the Chinese government to increase the number of scholarships it currently offers to PNG students.

Minster Niningi made this call during a farewell reception at the Chinese embassy last week where he said education is one of the important areas of exchanges and cooperation between PNG and China.

The Samoa Observer reports that Winston Peters made the suggestion during an exclusive interview at the recent Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Samoa.

Mr Peters said the level of debts that Pacific Island nations owed to the Chinese government should be addressed at the leadership level.

Last week, Tonga Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva cautioned Pacific Island nations to "slow down" asking China for loans.

He referred to the experiences of his own country, which owes the Chinese government $US160 million.

The charter flight led by Prime Minister O’Neill with government delegation last Wednesday was used as a test flight by Air Niugini with the various NAC verifications.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said PNG must tap into the developments that is taking place around the world and China is an example to learn from.

He said it has been a privilege to see first-hand the dynamic developments and core initiatives of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone whilst visiting Administration of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone in the New District of Pudong last Friday.

In response to budget cuts, the ABC last year ceased shortwave broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region ahead of a switch to FM transmission.

Australia-based technology observer Peter Marks told Radio ABC's Tech Headprogramme that since that withdrawal, the space was swiftly being filled.

"Since Radio Australia has dropped off shortwave, many of the exact frequencies we used to use have been now taken over by Chinese stations targetting the Asia Pacific region," he explained.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported his comments following remarks by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that the Australian government was concerned some Chinese financing arrangements in the Pacific would undermine the islands' sovereignty.

She said Australia would aim to offer alternatives to Chinese infrastructure development.

Ambassador Cheng Jingye said the idea China wanted to create debt-traps for the Pacific nations was "ridiculous".

China's relationships with Pacific nations were on an equal footing which was mutually beneficial, he said.

Apart from that, Minister for Planning Richard Maru will also be signing instruments to review the Exim Bank loan for the revival of the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang and One Belt One road initiative with China.

Announcing the trip yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the trip is important as it will certainly free trade opportunities between the two countries.

He added that PNG must step in and be part of China’s economic growth, since it is the second largest economy in the world.

Social media users in the country noticed video clips of the cartoon were being removed on Saturday, and on Monday, state newspaper Global Times said that the #PeppaPig hashtag had been removed from the Douyin video website, while searches for "Peppa Pig" on the site produced no results.

Many papers also note that the platform appears to have added "Peppa Pig" to its list of blacklisted content.

The Peppa Pig cartoon is hugely popular in China, but despite being targeted at a pre-school audience, it has found mass appeal with Chinese adults in recent months.

Following the handing over of the International Convention Centre to the PNG Government and launching of the China-AID APEC Roads Projects, Maru said ties with China should be enhanced through a bilateral agreement focusing on aid.

He said recently the Chinese Government has supported PNG through various aid projects.

And it was only fitting that ties with the country be strengthened through the area of aid.

He said this during the handing over of the International Convention Centre and the launch of the China-Aid APEC Road Projects.

O’Neill said since the country’s birth, PNG has remained committed to the One China Policy.

It was a colourful event with song and dance as the Chinese Ambassador to PNG, Xue Bing, and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill arrived for the ceremony, accompanied by Ministers and senior Government officials.