On March 24, 2025, H.E. Yang Xiaoguang, Chinese Ambassador to PNG contributed an article to PNG’s two mainstream media The National and Post-Courier entitled “What does China’s National Two Sessions mean for PNG?” The article presents the spirit of China’s National Two Sessions, and the full text is as follows:

A few days ago, the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China and the Third Session of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee (The Two Sessions) successfully concluded in Beijing. Against the backdrop of sluggish global growth, rising protectionism, and increasing uncertainty in the world, this year’s Two Sessions sent a strong message of China’s firm commitment to fully advancing high-quality development and further expanding opening up, which has injected confidence and strength into global development. This year’s Two Sessions has drawn worldwide attention, with many countries hoping to gain insights into China’s development prospects and explore more opportunities for cooperation with China. What are the main outcomes from the Two Sessions? There are basically four highlights as reflected in the Report on the Work of the Government passed during the Two Sessions.

First, pursue progress while ensuring stability. In 2024, China’s GDP rose to 134.9 trillion RMB yuan (1 RMB yuan is about 0.57 Kina), marking a 5% increase and contributing around 30% to global economic growth. The total retail sales of consumer goods surpassed 48 trillion RMB yuan, and the grain output hit a new height of 700 million metric tons. In 2025, China’s target for GDP growth maintains at around 5 percent, and the new urban jobs will be over 12 million. China’s economy has a stable foundation, numerous strengths, remarkable resilience and vast potential. The dominating trend of a sound Chinese economy for the long term and the elements supporting it have not changed.

Second, reinforce the leading role of innovation. In 2024, China’s technological innovation capabilities continued to strengthen. More innovation outcomes were commercialized at a faster pace. New quality productive forces and digital economy have continued to flourish. China’s total input in R&D exceeded 3.6 trillion RMB yuan, maintaining as the second-largest in the world. China has moved up in the Global Innovation Index to 11th place, one of the fastest 10-year climbers. 4.25 million 5G mobile base stations have been built in China, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global total. Over 17,000 “5G plus Industrial Internet” projects have been launched, covering all major industrial sectors. China has also made new breakthroughs in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications, aerospace and many other fields. In 2025, China will continue to increase investment in scientific research, promote development of commercial space flight, low-altitude economy and other emerging industries, make better use of “AI plus” initiative, broaden large scale application of 5G technology, and foster future industries such as biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G technology.

Third, focus on improving people’s wellbeing. The Communist Party of China is a party that adheres to the people-centered approach and always takes the people’s aspirations for a better life as its goal. In 2024, the average life expectancy of Chinese people increased to 79 years, ranking fourth among 53 middle and high income countries. 12.56 million new urban jobs were created. The annual participation rate of basic medical insurance remained stable at around 95%. The enrollment rate of nine-year compulsory education was close to 100%. This year’s Report on the Work of the Government for the first time wrote that “We should pursue people-oriented macro policies” and “more funds and resources will be invested in people and used to meet their needs”. New policy measures have been formulated to stabilize and expand employment, strengthen basic medical and health services, and improve social security and services, reaffirming the commitment of the CPC and the Chinese government to making greater efforts for people’s well-being.

Fourth, expand opening up and cooperation. Opening up is a hallmark of China’s modernization. China is the only country in the world that hosts International Import Expo which has been held for seven consecutive years. China has signed 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions. In 2024, China’s total import and export volume of goods reached 43.58 trillion yuan, hitting a record high. China will continue to keep foreign trade stable, foster new growth points in green trade and digital trade, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation for more substantive and deeper outcomes. China will firmly uphold the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, broaden converging interests with other countries, and promote common development.

The development plans formulated during the Two Sessions further demonstrate that China’s development will continue to advance steadily, and cooperating with China is cooperating with the future. This year marks the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence, and next year we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-PNG diplomatic relations. Looking back to the past, China-PNG cooperation has achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to PNG people. Looking into the future, China will remain PNG’s most reliable partner in its independent development process. We welcome PNG to get on board the “express train” of China’s development and share the development opportunities in the next 50 years to achieve common prosperity.

China will remain PNG’s partner of mutual respect and trust. We will continue to strengthen exchanges at leadership and other levels, consolidate political mutual trust, and give mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns. China appreciates PNG’s firm commitment to the one-China principle that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and supporting all efforts made by the Chinese Government to realize reunification. China also firmly respects PNG’s sovereignty and independence, and supports PNG’s independent choice of development path pursuant to its national conditions.

China will remain PNG’s partner of mutual benefit. China is ready to work with PNG to build greater synergy in our development strategies and deliver more outcomes from high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We will actively push forward the consultation process of the Free Trade Agreement, allowing more PNG high-quality products to enter China’s huge market, encourage and support more Chinese companies to participate in PNG’s downstream processing and special economic zone development. We will give priority to cooperation in climate change, disaster prevention and mitigation. China is also willing to share innovation achievements with PNG and strengthen cooperation in new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, information and communications and other high-tech areas.

China will remain PNG’s partner of mutual learning. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with PNG in education, culture, health and others. We hope there will be more visa facilitation measures for Chinese citizens to invest and travel in PNG. More PNG friends are welcome to China for study, business and tourism.

China will remain PNG’s partner of mutual support. China will strengthen cooperation with PNG under the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. We support PNG in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and are willing to strengthen exchanges and coordination on major international and regional issues, to jointly build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally-beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and work for a community with a shared future for mankind.

We look forward to making concerted efforts with PNG and strengthening our cooperation to create a brighter future for China-PNG comprehensive strategic partnership and for our two countries’ development.