On October 12, 1976, the People's Republic of China officially established diplomatic relations with the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relations between the two sides have been increasingly mature and sound.

In November 2014，President Xi Jinping met with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Fiji and the two sides upgraded the relations to a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. In November 2018，President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Papua New Guinea and met with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill,the two sides upgraded the relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. In October 2021, President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister James Marape. In November 2022, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister James Marape during the 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. In October 2023，President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister James Marape, who came to China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and paid an official visit to China. In April 2024，Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visited Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea stands as China's biggest trading partner among Pacific island countries. Cooperation in areas such as business, energy, resources and health is making new progress. In February 2021, the Confucius Institute at the PNG University of Technology was offically established. The Chinese medical teams have been offering free medical services in Papua New Guinea since 2002. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark paid a visit to Papua New Guinea and provided humanitarian medical services to the local people twice, respectively in September 2014, and July 2018.