Remarks by Chinese Ambassador to PNG Yang Xiaoguang at the Deck Reception Hosted by China PLAN Silk Road Ark Hospital Ship

Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of PNG,
Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Hon. James Byron Chan, Governor for New Ireland Province,
Rear Admiral Fang Jinsong and Senior Capatain Peng Guliang, Commanders of the Silk Ark Hospital Ship,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure to join you here in Port Moresby for the Deck Reception hosted by the Silk Road Ark Hospital Ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all officers and medical staff aboard the ship! I would also like to express sincere appreciation to the relevant departments of PNG for the thoughtful arrangements made for this visit.

Eight months ago, the Silk Road Ark Hospital Ship set sail for its first overseas mission since being commissioned, providing medical services and carrying out cultural exchange activities. PNG is the final stop of this journey. As the saying goes, "Save the best for last." The visit of the hospital ship fully speaks to the importance that China attaches to PNG and to China-PNG relations.

This is a visit that deepens friendship. As a Chinese saying goes, "more exchanges will bring families and friends closer together." In recent years, China and PNG have maintained close exchanges at various levels. In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to PNG. In 2022 and 2023, Prime Minister Hon. James Marape visited China twice. The two governments and peoples have kept active exchanges. Last year, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy attended PNG's 50th independence anniversary celebrations. This year, the visit of the hospital ship is one of the signature events celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-PNG diplomatic relations, and will further deepen the friendship between our two governments, militaries and peoples.

This is a visit that strengthens cooperation. Medical and health cooperation has always been a highlight in our bilateral relationship. China has been sending medical teams to PNG for 24 consecutive years. We have supported PNG to build the New Enga Hospital, and provided a large quantities of medical equipment and medicines. During the past few days, the Chinese medical experts on the hospital ship have had in-depth exchanges with their PNG counterparts, making new contributions to the development of medical services in PNG. The commanders of the hospital ship also held in-depth and friendly exchanges with PNG's political and military senior officials, jointly looking ahead to the broad prospects for practical cooperation between the two sides.

This is a visit that benefits the people. Guided by the people-centered principle in its cooperation with PNG, China is committed to providing assistance within our capacity to the economic and social development of PNG, bringing benefits to more PNG people. Over the past 6 days since the ship arrived, the Chinese medical experts have provided various medical examination and treatment services to 5493 local residents, performed 339 surgeries, and visited communities to offer medical services, all were free of charge. The ship also dispatched a team to visit local school for cultural exchanges.

The hard work of all the medical staff has made significant contributions to the improvement of the health of PNG people, as well as the deepening of the friendship between our two countries. This embodies the Chinese government and military's commitment to peace, reverence for life, vision for a world for all, and dedication to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, composing a remarkable chapter in the joint efforts of China and PNG to build a community with a shared future for humanity. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the commanders, all medical staff and officers on board, and also to the relevant PNG authorities, Chinese communities, Chinese business association for their assistance and cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

In today's world, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, transformation and turbulence are intertwined, and wars and conflicts keep flaring up. In the face of global turbulence, China believes that only by working together in solidarity can all countries proceed steadily and far. We adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, remain committed to peaceful development, and will never take the beaten path of seeking hegemony as its strength grows. We are dedicated to promoting global growth through our own development, firmly upholding the international rule of law, fairness and justice, and striving to facilitate the peaceful resolution of international and regional hotspots. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order.

Last month, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress and the Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference successfully concluded in Beijing. The sessions approved the Report on the Work of the Government of 2026 and the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of China, which review the development achievements of China in 2025 and made comprehensive arrangements for China's development from 2026 to 2030.

In 2025, China's GDP exceeded 140 trillion RMB Yuan (about 86.8 trillion Kina), with a growth of 5%. China's contribution to global economic growth has remained at around 30% for many consecutive years. China's total import and export value of goods surpassed 45 trillion RMB Yuan, having been the world's largest goods trading nation for 9 years. China's production of new energy vehicles exceeded 16 million, ranking first globally for 11 years. China has achieved remarkable results in scientific and technological innovation, with its research and application in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology leading the world. The conditions underpinning China's long-term growth and underlying trend remain unchanged. China will continue to serve as the most stable engine of the global economic growth.

In 2026, China's economic growth target is 4.5% to 5%, with GDP growth exceeding 6 trillion RMB Yuan. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will further expand high-level opening-up, uphold the principle of win-win cooperation, steadily advance institutional opening-up, and pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, delivering more benefits to the people of all countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

China and PNG have moved forward hand in hand for 50 years.

Over the past 50 years, our two countries have maintained close exchanges at all levels, kept deepening our political mutual trust, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns. PNG firmly adheres to the one-China principle, firmly believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and resolutely opposes "Taiwan independence." China firmly supports PNG to independently take the development path to prosperity suited to its national conditions.

Over the past 50 years, PNG has become China's largest trading partner and investment destination among Pacific Island countries. Our bilateral trade volume has achieved hundreds-fold growth, with PNG consistently maintaining a significant trade surplus. China has supported the development of many high-quality infrastructure projects in PNG, and more and more Chinese companies have come to invest and operate, making important contributions to PNG's economic and social development.

Over the past 50 years, the friendship between our peoples has kept deepening. China has been providing Chinese Government Scholarships and various scholarship programs to PNG for 40 consecutive years, and has offered technical support of Juncao and upland rice for 26 consecutive years. Our two sides have also cooperated closely across a wide range of fields, including education, transportation, culture, and subnational exchanges, delivering benefits to many people.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

Standing at this new historical starting point marked by the 50th anniversary of China-PNG diplomatic relations and the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, under the strategic guidance of our two countries' leaders, China stands ready to work together with PNG, to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation and carry forward our traditional friendship, jointly advancing the China-PNG comprehensive strategic partnership toward an ever brighter future.

Last but not least, let me once again extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests, and wish the visit of the Silk Road Ark Hospital Ship a complete success.

Finally, let me propose a toast,

To the visit of the Silk Road Ark Hospital Ship,

To the friendship and cooperation between China and PNG,

To the health and happiness of all guests present today,

Cheers!

Thank you!