PNG gets advice to host Apec

National

PAPUA New Guinea has been getting assistance in terms of advice from its closest neighbours and other partners to prepare for the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato says.
“I had the opportunity to discuss that with the foreign minister of Australia, the US State Department, the foreign minister of New Zealand, the prime minister of Japan – many of our very close friends of the Pacific,” he said.
“They want to ensure that the Pacific succeeds.
“The Pacific becomes an important and relevant contributor to international events and, in fact, issues that concern the world.
“For example, the issues concerning our oceans, which many of the Pacific Island nations had the opportunity to attend.”
Pato made the statement during a cocktail to commemorate Fiji’s 46th Independence anniversary in Port Moresby last Friday.
In attendance were ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of  diplomatic missions based in Papua New Guinea.
Pato acknowledged them for their continuous support towards growth of countries in the Pacific region.
“Of course, this major event in Fiji and in Papua New Guinea or elsewhere in our region in the Pacific Islands cannot come, they are not easy, there are challenges,” he said.
“So many of you, who are committed to the vision and aspirations of the people of the Pacific to contribute globally, to sustain ourselves to a better future, to a better quality of life so that we can have a better world.
“We could not have come this far without the support and the friendship we have.
“They cannot come without the friendship, the support, support in terms of resources, in terms of finances, in terms of people from our neighbours and our friends.”