Indonesia-PNG bonds lure economic benefits

PEACE and friendship should be the fundamental criteria in the relationship of the South Pacific nations and Indonesia, says Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato.
He told the Indonesia South Pacific forum last Thursday in Jakarta that adopting such a positive approach would result in economic and strategic benefits.
“We all know that one of the great characteristics of the sovereign state of Indonesia is its diversity, and one of the delightful features of that diversity is a big Melanesian population with cultural practices similar to those in many countries in the blue Pacific,” Pato said.
“We should look at this as a bond of unity between the blue Pacific and Indonesia and reject any moves to make it a cause of dispute.”
On the sidelines of the forum, Pato and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi launched the negotiation process for the Indonesia-PNG preferential trade agreement.
Pato said the new forum was timely following on from the attendance of the Pacific leaders at last year’s Apec Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.
The Papua New Guinea Government invited leaders whose countries were not Apec members to witness the trade negotiations and consultations.
“Among those countries showing increasing interest in being more involved in the blue continent is PNG’s dear friend and neighbour, Indonesia,” Pato said.
“A welcoming recognition of Indonesia’s interest came when it received associate membership status of the Melanesian Spearhead group in 2015, a move strongly advocated by PNG.”