Papua New Guinea premier cuts China trip short after testing positive for COVID-19

Papua New Guinea premier cuts China trip short after testing positive for COVID-19

James Marape, who arrived in Beijing last Thursday for Olympics opening, also cancels France trip

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Papua New Guinea's prime minister, who tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday as he arrived in China for the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony, has cut his trip short and canceled his France trip initially scheduled for this week, according to his office.

James Marape, fully vaccinated with a booster shot, returned home on Sunday and canceled his further engagements besides his planned trip to France.

“China has arranged medical experts to treat Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape after he tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in China to attend the Olympics’ opening ceremony,” Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said in Beijing on Monday.

“The Papua New Guinea delegation strictly followed the COVID-19 prevention and control rules while in China,” Zhao added.

Around 32 world leaders, including heads of multi-national organizations, attended the opening ceremony of the world’s biggest winter games last Friday.

In Beijing, Marape held a video call with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and China granted a loan of $223 million to the island nation during the talk, Papua New Guinea daily Post Courier reported on Monday.

The two sides also signed nine other agreements.

Ahead of the Beijing trip, Marape had said Papua New Guinea would offer the sale of liquified natural gas to China.

After the China trip that was supposed to conclude by Feb. 8, Marape’s delegation had been set to fly to Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the One Ocean Summit, but the trip was canceled.

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