On April 27, 2019, State Councilor and Foreign Minster Wang Yi met with Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Beijing, who was accompanying Prime Minister Peter O'Neill of PNG for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China.

Wang Yi said that President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to PNG last year elevated the relations between the two countries to the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Chinese side appreciates PNG's active participation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. PNG is the first Pacific Island country to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in and cooperation plans of joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with China, playing a leading role in the region. The Chinese side is willing to work with the PNG side to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of this forum, promote cooperation projects in various sectors with practical efforts, advance economic development and improvement of people's livelihood in PNG, and guide the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries for broader and in-depth development.

Rimbink Pato congratulated on the successful hosting of the forum. The mutually beneficial cooperation between PNG and China has made remarkable achievements. PNG adheres to the one-China policy and expects further cooperation in infrastructure, education, social services and other sectors with the Chinese side under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to drive more Pacific Island countries to participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.