Chongqing Establishes Sister Province-city Relations with PNG’s Morobe Province

Chongqing - Recently, Chongqing and Papua New Guinea's Morobe Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on establishing sister province-city relations to promote friendly cooperation between the two sides in the economy, education, culture, agriculture, tourism, and technical assistance.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is the first country in the Pacific island region to sign an MOU for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China. Also, it is an important partner of China in the South Pacific region.

Morobe Province is located in the central part of PNG and is a relatively developed province. The province's capital, Lae, is the country's second-largest city and an important industrial town whose manufacturing, fish processing, and mining industries are all in the leading position in the country.

In 2002, Chongqing sent the first medical team to PNG. Up to 2021, Chonqing has sent 12 medical teams, including 120 medical workers, to PNG. Chongqing brought advanced domestic clinical diagnosis and treatment technology to PNG, helped fight COVID-19, and provided medical services to overseas Chinese residents and locals.

The first Confucius Institute in PNG was inaugurated in Lae in Morobe Province in February 2021, jointly established by Chongqing Normal University and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology(Unitech). PNG's Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae, attended the inaugural ceremony and announced its establishment.

In 2022, Chongqing Library set up the Chongqing overseas book corner at the Confucius Institute at Unitech, donating 300 books to introduce China and Chongqing.

Chongqing will continue to expand new fields for cooperation with Morobe Province, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote all-around bilateral exchanges and cooperation.