Papua New Guinea (PNG) opposes any unilateral action or move, including a "referendum", by the Taiwan authorities to seek "Taiwan independence", says a joint press communique signed here Monday between PNG and China.

The communique states that PNG supports the maintenance of peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and the region at large.

The PNG side reassures the Chinese government that all contacts between PNG and Taiwan will be strictly confined to the economic area and that PNG will have no contact of any form with Taiwan that would contravene the one-China position.

The PNG side reiterates its support in the communique for the position of the Chinese government that there is only one China and the Chinese government is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

Under the communique, PNG maintains that the question of Taiwan is purely China's internal affair. The PNG side pursues the one-China policy, and respects and supports China's efforts to safeguard national unity. It expresses hope for an early realization of China's peaceful reunification.

The communique also elaborates on plans to further strengthen the political and economic cooperation between PNG and China.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2004)