Aust foreign minister confirms attendance

AUSTRALIAN Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Brimingham is attending a three-day summit in Singapore and will continue on to Papua New Guinea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
After the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit with the prime minister of Singapore, Birmingham is expected to arrive in Port Moresby on Thursday.
“RCEP provides an opportunity to further strengthen the regional trade and investment environment and further integrate Australia within the region,” Brimingham said
RCEP countries account for 10 of Australia’s top 15 trading partners and more than 30 per cent of global GDP.
“I will travel to Papua New Guinea with Foreign Minister Marise Payne for the Apec ministerial meeting,” he said.
“Our representation is important given 12 of our top 15 trading partners are Apec economies, accounting for almost half of the world’s trade in goods and services.”
Birmingham said Apec was a vital platform to continue to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth within the region.