The China Friendship Association with support from the Chinese Embassy donated a total of 30 Bulletproof Vests to the National Capital District (NCD) police yesterday.
The vests were officially handed over by the Chinese Ambassador to Papua New Guina (PNG), His Excellency Yang Xiaoguang, to Assistant Police Commissioner of Police for NCD/Central Command Ben Turi at the Boroko Police Headquarters in Port Moresby city.
Speaking on behalf of the China Friendship Association, representative Khim Tan said this donation is a show of gratitude from the Chinese Community in PNG.
“Thank you for your long-standing support and tireless effort in protecting the Chinese community and China PNG Friendship Association. Your dedication has not only safeguarded our security but also strengthened the trust and cooperation between us. These vests will enhance the safety of frontline officers, ensuring their protection while on duty,” said Tan.
He added that this gesture is also a reflection of the longstanding friendship between China and PNG and highlights the shared commitment to mutual respect, support, and cooperation.
“Looking to the future, I am confident that the Chinese community in Papua New Guinea will continue to work hand-to-hand with the people of this great nation to achieve shared prosperity, harmony, and peace.”
His Excellency Yang Xiaoguang expressed his sincere gratitude for the long-term support of NCDC Police to the Chinese Embassy, the overseas Chinese enterprises, Chinese community.
“China and Papua New Guinea are good friends, good partners, and good brothers. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of our leaders and the concerted efforts of friends from all walks of life, our two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership have enjoyed rapid development,” Said Ambassador Xiaoguang.
He said PNG and China’s political mutual trust has deepened while police cooperation is also making steady progress.
In September this year, Assistant Commissioner Hodges Ette led a delegation to Fujian Province in China to attend the Third Ministerial Dialogue for China-Pacific Island Countries on Police Capacity Building and Police Cooperation.
And In November this year, Police Commissioner David Manning held bilateral talks with China’s Vice Minister for Public Security Xu Datong, in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Ambassador Xiaoguang said they are going to officially hand over a drug testing laboratory to the Royal Constabulary of PNG this month as well.
“China will continue to provide affordable assistance to PNG on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and upon the demand of the Papua New Guinea side, including on strengthening the capacity building of policing to support PNG police to give better protection to the Chinese companies and overseas Chinese communities in PNG, and to provide a safer public security environment for China-PNG cooperation,” he said.
“The overseas Chinese community serves as an important bridge for our people-to-people exchanges. They have actively fit themselves into PNG’s diversified society for the long term and contributed positively to the economic and social development of PNG,” said the Ambassador.
The China-PNG Friendship Association for many years have kept close cooperation with NCD police and effectively promoted the improvement of public security in Port Moresby, through donation of office supplies, providing vehicle maintenance and installing CCTV camera networks around the city.
ACP NCD/Central Ben Turi in receiving the bulletproof vests thanked the Chinese Community for their generosity.
“For the donation today, it’s going to be a milestone in helping our police force in the city,” said ACP Turi.
He said they have about 60 police officers already trained for special operations.
“Our police commissioner has already instructed us that at the beginning of the year (2025), this unit will come into full force and will no longer be acting as sector patrols anymore,” he said.
Turi said the officers have been trained by the Australian Federal Police on hostage rescues, crowd control, unarmed combat, and fights and they will be the ones to respond to these violent activities in the city.
“Your donation is really much appreciated by the command, and on behalf of the command, the police of both NCD and Central, I thank you and the Chinese government for the donation today,” Turi said.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by NCD Metropolitan Commander Silva Sika, police Station Commanders in NCD and other senior divisional commanders.