Media monitoring for a client addressing their agenda along Chinese BRI.

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w: www.geoffraby.com
Weekly Newsletter
Headlines
China's "circle of friends" for FTA sees constant expansion
and broad presence
https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/qwyw/rdxw/69502.htm
So far, China has signed 17 FTAs with 25 countries and regions and
established a circle of friends for FTA covering Europe, Asia, Oceania,
South America and Africa. In 2017, the trade and investment between
China and its FTA partners accounted for 25 percent, 51 percent and 67
percent of China's foreign goods trade, service trade and two-way
investment, respectively.
At present, negotiation or escalation negotiation work for 12 FTAs between
China and 27 other countries is well underway. These agreements include
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the second-stage
negotiation for China-Japan-South Korea, China-Norway, China-Sri Lanka,
China-Israel, China-South Korea and China-Pakistan FTAs and the
escalation negotiation for China-Singapore and China-New Zealand FTA.
What to expect from China's first import expo
https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/qwyw/rdxw/69504.htm
The first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled for Nov. 5-
10 in Shanghai, will see the participation of over 130 countries and regions,
and more than 2,800 companies.
China has granted the status of "Guest of Honor" to 12 countries, namely,
Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan,
Russia, South Africa, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. More than 30 of
the world's 44 least developed countries will participate in the event. The
expo provides two standard booths free of charge for less developed
countries.

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w: www.geoffraby.com
Project Development
CHEC on four-lane airport road
https://www.thenational.com.pg/sealing-planned-for-four-lane-airport-road/
Expected to take place from next month, the road is from Kagamuga airport
to Keltiga Junction, in Western Highland.
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is on schedule to complete it
next year with K250 million.
China's Sinopec in talks for more LNG from Exxon Mobil
https://www.reuters.com/article/papua-lng-china/chinas-sinopec-in-talks-to-lock-in-more-
papua-new-guinea-lng-sources-idUSL3N1WZ1IC
The exact volumes under discussion were not immediately clear but project
holder Oil Search said in its half-yearly results statement in August that
negotiations are ongoing to contract the project’s final batch of mid-term
supply totaling 0.45 million tonnes per annum (mmtpa).
The supply deal will likely start ahead of this winter and it will be for about
three years, from two of the sources briefed on the matter.
Bilateral Relations
Chinese companies show support for the growth of table
tennis in PNG
https://postcourier.com.pg/companies-show-support-growth-table-tennis-png/
PNG Table Tennis Federation received a total of K120,000 last Friday from
various PNG-based Chinese business houses who pledged their support to
develop the sport in the country.
The sponsors include Fujian entrepreneurs (K20,000), Yuan Fang
(K20,000), 9-Mile Plaza (K10,000), CHEC (K20,000), XYZ Construction
(K30,000) and Leon Entrepreneurs with K20,000.
Japan pushes infrastructure program into Pacific to counter
China's influence
https://www.afr.com/news/world/japan-pushes-infrastructure-program-into-pacific-to-
counter-chinas-influence-20181023-h16zh7

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w: www.geoffraby.com
In a series of recent briefings, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and other departments in Tokyo confirmed the government's intention to
expand infrastructure investment in both south-east Asia and the Pacific
islands.
Most of Japan's recent development assistance has been in Asia,
particularly India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
US looks to trump China’s Huawei in PNG
http://infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/news-summary/us-looks-to-trump-
chinas-huawei-in-papua-new-guinea/
The United States and Pacific allies will counter a bid from Chinese
telecoms giant Huawei to build a communications network in Papua New
Guinea, a senior diplomat said Friday, intensifying a campaign to curb
China’s rising regional influence.
Caruso said there was a need to make it easier for Pacific nations to do
business with the US and its allies, providing a transparent private sector-
led model that offered a clear alternative to Beijing’s Belt and Road
initiative. “The whole idea is to give alternatives, not to say ‘don’t do
business with China”, he said.