AUSTRALIAN High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to working closely with Papua New Guinea in the year ahead and to ensure a positive and productive bilateral relationship.
“Our relationship with Papua New Guinea is particularly strong and this year should be a positive one for the relationship between the two countries,” Mr Moraitis said when delivering his message for Australia Day, which falls tomorrow.
The high commissioner said Sir Michael Somare and Kevin Rudd met recently in Bali and Mr Rudd was keen to visit PNG this year following an invitation by Sir Michael.
“We can also expect the annual Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum involving a number of ministers from both countries to take place early this year,” Mr Moraitis added.
He said each Jan 26, Australians gather to celebrate the day and reflect on what they had achieved and could be proud of, and to reaffirm to making Australia a better place for the future.
“Australia and PNG are very closely linked through geographical proximity, a shared history, a mutual desire for strong democratic institutions operating under the rule of law and an ongoing security, economic, tourism, educational and people-to-people links,” he said.
Mr Moraitis also took the opportunity to wish his compatriots “happy Australia Day”.