Apec security work boosting ties

WORK on maritime security, counter-terrorism and cyber security for Apec by Australia and PNG will strengthen links between the Defence Force and police, a report from an economic cooperation dialogue in Port Moresby says.
Australia’s cooperation and support on security fit into a much broader strategic cooperation on security matters, it said.
Australia hosted the fourth annual Australia-PNG bilateral security dialogue.
It was the first opportunity for high-level talks on the shared security interests since Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper, launched in November 2017, identified support for a stable and prosperous PNG – one of Australia’s most important foreign policy objectives.
“This new initiative creates an opportunity to discuss global economic developments, bilateral agreements and future economic cooperation,” the report said.
“Officials agreed that, through the Economic Cooperation dialogue, the two countries would work together to seize the opportunities created by technology and a changing global economic environment.”
“The dialogue underlined their keen interest in maintaining regional stability and security amid an increasingly complex and changing strategic environment.
“Discussions focused on how PNG and Australia can build on their strategic partnership through continued cooperation on regional security issues.
“Regional health security, border security, biosecurity and fisheries were identified as essential to the shared strategic interests of the two neighbours.”
Recognising the importance of these discussions, the Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, and acting deputy secretary of Australia’s Department of Defence Marc Ablong travelled from Canberra to co-chair the dalogue with PNG’s Department of Foreign Affairs acting secretary Barbara Age and PNG’s Department of Defence first assistant secretary (Policy) Peter Whaieng and Col Siale Diro, of the PNG Defence Force.
Adamson co-chaired the dialogue with PNG’s Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele.
Papua New Guinea offered to host the next dialogue and Economic Cooperation dialogue next year in Port Moresby.