BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) to further integrate development strategies with each other.
Li's pledge came during his talks with Peter O'Neill, PNG prime minister at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
China and PNG have highly complementary economies with great potential for cooperation, Li told O'Neill.
China would like to further integrate its strategies with the development plans of PNG, enhance cooperation on production capacity, agriculture, forestry, fishery, energy resources, telecommunication, transportation and infrastructure construction, Li said.
He encouraged the two countries to further expand two-way trade, intensify technological and personnel exchanges, and initiate negotiations on an FTA agreement at an early date.
O'Neill said PNG views China as an important partner and is willing to become a portal for cooperation between China and South Pacific countries.
PNG is ready to cooperate in areas including energy, tourism, aviation, finance and education, he said.
On the political front, Li hailed the sound development of bilateral relationship in the past four decades since the two forged diplomatic ties.
China established formal diplomatic relations with PNG in 1976, soon after the country gained independence from Australia.
Li called on both countries to enhance coordination within multi-lateral mechanisms including the United Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, ASEAN Regional Forum and the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as the South-South cooperation framework.
At the beginning of the talks, O'Neill expressed sympathies to the flood-hit areas in southern China.
O'Neill kicked off his week-long official visit to China on Tuesday. Besides Beijing, he will attend the Eco Forum Global in Guiyang in southwestern China and visit Shenzhen.