China and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) enjoy long-lasting friendly exchanges, having continued to expand exchanges and cooperation in more than 20 areas since the establishment of diplomatic ties in the 1970s. China-PIC relations have entered a new stage of rapid growth in the recent years. PICs are important economic and trade partners of China. According to the Chinese statistics, by the end of 2021, China’s direct investment in PICs having diplomatic relations with China had reached USD 2.72 billion. China and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have enjoyed a deepening economic relationship. During a meeting with Prime Minister of PNG James Marape in November 2022, President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and PNG, as good friends, good partners, and good brothers, have set a fine example of solidarity, collaboration and win-win cooperation between developing countries. China will work with PNG towards a comprehensive strategic partnership at a higher level and with greater mutual benefit, with a view to playing a leading and exemplary role in building an even closer China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) community with a shared future.

Papua New Guinea is a resource-rich but developing country, with vast cultural diversity and many living in traditional lifestyles. How can China-PNG cooperation balance development and equality? PNG has joined the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as having a Capacity Cooperation Agreement with China. What benefits will China-PNG cooperation yield in future? How can China-PNG cooperation help protect the nation’s unique natural heritage in the face of climate change? In a tense geopolitical environment, is there any scope for cooperation between PNG, China, and other partners? How can China help address the needs and aspirations of the developing world?

LANGUAGE

English/Chinese simultaneous interpretation

Baidu live:

https://live.baidu.com/m/media/multipage/liveshow/index.html?room_id=8412751532&source=h5pre

AGENDA

16:30 welcome and introduction by CCG vice president Mike Liu

16:35 speech by H.E. Peter O’Neill, former Prime Minister of PNG

16:45 fireside-chat moderated by David Morris, CCG nonresident senior fellow

17:15 Q&A

17:30 event adjourns

SPEAKER:

H.E. Peter O’Neill,

Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Peter O’Neill was sworn in on 4 August 2012 as the 9th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.He is the Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pangia Open and Leader of People’s National Congress Party (P.N.C).

Prime Minister O’Neill was first elected to the 7th National Parliament in 2002 soon after appointed as Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations following the formation of the Somare/Marat Government. In 2003, he was appointed Minister for Public Service and named as the Leader of Government Business.

He was re-elected in 2007 to the 8th National Parliament and was appointed as Minister responsible for Commerce and Industry and Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in the caretaker cabinet then Minister for Public Service in the Somare/Temu cabinet. In 2010, he was appointed as Minister for Finance and Treasury.

Mr O’Neill was President of the PNG Institute of Certified Practicing Accountants (PNGCPA) and served as Company Director for various companies and statutory institutions including Executive Chairman of PNG Banking Corporation, Rural Development Bank, Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust and Pacific MMI Insurance.

Mike Liu,

Vice President, Senior Fellow of Center for China and Globalization

Mike is the former Managing Director and legal Rep for DXC Technology in Greater China region, and before that Mike was the global Vice President, Country Head and legal Rep for Infosys in Greater China region.Mike’s experience spans across Greater China, India, US, and Singapore where Mike has demonstrated his unique capacity to accomplish the growth agenda for the organizations he has served.Mike is a frequent speaker at various industry forums. Mike has been invited to participate in the Summer Davos in 2017, the Business Summit of BRICS in 2017, and Qingdao Multinationals Summit in 2019. Mike is the recipients of Top 10 Figures in China Outsourcing Industry and Top 100 Figures in China IT and Service Industry.

David Morris,

Nonresident Senior Fellow, CCG; Vice Chair of UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network; former Chief Representative of Pacific Islands Forum

David Morris has had a global career as Australian and multilateral diplomat, and senior adviser to governments, businesses, universities and the United Nations. He is Vice Chair of UNESCAP Sustainable Business Network, which advises the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and advocates for business leadership in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He is leading development of an Asia Pacific Green Deal initiative, for which he was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Asia Business Leader Lifetime Achievement Award.