Marape to attend UN meeting

PRIME Minister James Marape will be attending various engagements abroad this month, starting with the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
This is an annual summit of leaders from the UN member states who will gather in New York to address the UNGA on the implementation of various UN declarations, agreements and conventions.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Marape would deliver the country’s statement on Sept 23.
His statement would highlight PNG’s implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) to date, climate change, challenges of mitigating the Coronavirus (Covid-19), economic recovery and others.
Marape was also expected to meet with Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, for bilateral talks in Brisbane on Sept 25.
After the bilateral talks, both leaders would travel in a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft to Tokyo, Japan, to witness the funeral of the late Shinzo Abe, former prime minister of Japan, on Sept 27.
His attendance at the funeral would be in acknowledgement of the late Abe’s close relationship with PNG.
The late Abe, during his tenure as prime minister, ensured that Japan provided ongoing development assistance to PNG.