Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has strengthened Papua New Guinea’s enduring friendship with the People’s Republic of China and called for the fast-tracking of the Frieda River Project during high-level talks with executives of Guangdong Rising Holdings Group.
The meeting was held in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province and one of China’s great commercial and industrial centres. Guangzhou is at the heart of southern China’s economic powerhouse region and plays a leading role in trade, manufacturing, technology, finance, and international investment.
Prime Minister Marape said the visit marked an important step in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to deepen practical economic partnerships with China, particularly with major enterprises capable of investing in long- term nation-building projects.
Guangdong Rising Holdings Group is one of China’s leading provincial state-owned investment and industrial conglomerates, with interests spanning mining, advanced manufacturing, environmental services, engineering, finance, and international resource development. Through its ownership of PanAust, the company is linked to the proposed Frieda River Project, one of Papua New Guinea’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects.
Prime Minister Acknowledges President Xi Jinping
Prime Minister Marape used the occasion to acknowledge the personal support and leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying the relationship between Papua New Guinea and China continued to grow because of leadership at the highest level.
“I want to acknowledge His Excellency President Xi Jinping’s strong leadership. Without his direction, advice, and pointing us to Guangdong, we would not be sitting here today,” Prime Minister Marape said.
The Prime Minister recalled earlier bilateral meetings in Beijing where President Xi encouraged Papua New Guinea to engage directly with Guangdong Province.
“I told him Papua New Guinea had mining, oil and gas, agriculture and many products to sell to China. He replied and said, ‘Go to Guangdong Province’,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He said he later understood the significance of that advice.
“Later I realised that he gave me his best — the biggest province by population and the biggest province by economy size,” he said.
Fifty Years Of One China Policy
Prime Minister Marape said relations between Papua New Guinea and China were founded on mutual respect and strategic consistency since the days of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
He noted that 2026 marks 50 years since Papua New Guinea formally adopted the One China Policy in 1976, shortly after Independence.
“Papua New Guinea’s relationship with China is one we will never sacrifice nor compromise today or into the future,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He said every Prime Minister since Independence had maintained two core foreign policy principles: friends to all, enemies to none, and unwavering recognition of the One China Policy.
Full Commitment To Frieda River
Prime Minister Marape said the Frieda River Project remains a major national priority with the potential to create jobs, generate export revenue, build infrastructure, and stimulate regional development.
“I want to place on record my fullest commitment, my Government’s fullest commitment, and our country’s support to the Frieda River Project,” he said.
He urged the company to accelerate progress and assured them of total cooperation from the Papua New Guinea Government.
“I want to ask you to do everything you can to move the project fast. We have nothing but full support. We want to move it fast also,” Prime Minister Marape said.
To ensure momentum, he announced the creation of a dedicated Government taskforce focused solely on the project.
“I will set up a special State team just for Frieda River. They will work full time — nothing but us and Frieda — so we tick all boxes and move forward,” he said.
Benefits For PNG People
Prime Minister Marape said resource projects in Papua New Guinea must deliver not only investor returns, but lasting benefits for citizens, landowners, local businesses, and future generations.
He encouraged greater use of Papua New Guinean businesses in supply chains, logistics, services, construction, and downstream opportunities.
“We want this project to help uplift my people who still remain in poverty,” he said.
He also said the Government would seek strong environmental safeguards and modern technology standards so development could proceed responsibly.
Beyond Mining: A Wider Economic Partnership
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea was open to broader cooperation beyond mining, including agriculture, renewable energy, manufacturing, transport, and digital innovation.
“We are not only a mining country. We are an oil and gas country, an agricultural country, and an energy country,” he said.
He pointed to PNG’s hydropower and geothermal potential, saying clean energy could support battery manufacturing, industrial processing, and future special economic zones.
PNG Open To Chinese Investment
Prime Minister Marape concluded by saying Papua New Guinea had welcomed Chinese people and enterprise since the 1800s, and would continue to welcome responsible investors who respect PNG’s people and laws.
“With or without me, there will always be a welcome space for Chinese investors, Chinese people, and of course the great nation of China,” he said.
He said stronger government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people links would help secure prosperity for both nations in the decades ahead.