PNG has received the green light for its agricultural produce to enter China, as both countries look into expanding trade relations. This follows an announcement by Prime Minister James Marape about China lifting all biosecurity issues on PNG’s agricultural produce. The significant revelation was made during the closing ceremony of the two-day Department of Agriculture and Subsector Agencies Meeting held in Port Moresby on Friday, April 12, 2024. He describes it as a ‘landmark development’ that now ‘signifies a new era of opportunity for Papua New Guinea's agricultural sector, opening doors to expanded trade relations with one of the world's largest economies. Prime Minister Marape said details regarding this development will be disclosed in the forthcoming visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to PNG. This is a follow on from a series of high-level bilateral meetings between both countries. Prime Minister Marape had met with Chinese President Xi Jinping last October in Bejing on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. President Xi had reaffirmed China's commitment to enhancing cooperation with PNG and expressed China's willingness to strengthen its enduring friendship with PNG and to enhance political mutual trust. He also pledged to expand cooperation across various sectors to benefit the citizens of both countries. Prime Minister Marape said, "We will be announcing that biosecurity issues have been completely lifted (and) any produce from PNG can now find its way to the Chinese market.” “If any countries in the region are slow to changing their bio-security standards, China has opened their markets to us." The prime minister also used the opportunity to issue a challenge to the agriculture sector, urging heads of various commodity boards and agencies to escalate production to meet the burgeoning demand in the Chinese market. "The challenge is: Do we have the production to meet the demands of the Chinese market?”