Papua New Guinea to host China, Australia high level visits

China's foreign minister is expected to sign an economic cooperation deal on a visit to Papua New Guinea on Saturday, just days before Australia's prime minister arrives to mark historical defence ties by walking a famous World War Two trail. The high-level visits underscore the competition between China and U.S. allies for influence in the strategically located Pacific Islands. Papua New Guinea, only a few kilometres north of Australia, sees itself as a buffer between Asia and the Pacific Ocean, and is balancing trade ties with China and a defence deal that gives the U.S. military access to its ports and airports.