O’Neill, Abbott to hold talks

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill (pictured) will hold bilateral talks in Canberra with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott (pictured far right), saying it is important to continue high-level dialogue with its close partners.

“There are always a number of ongoing bilateral matters to discuss and it is important to maintain communications,” O’Neill said.

“There is a strong partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea and we will continue to build on this relationship.

“We have a number of ongoing partnership arrangements that are relevant to PNG’s core government policy areas such as education and healthcare.

“Australia has been very supportive in relation to preparations by PNG to host the APEC process in 2018 that will conclude with the Leaders’ Summit.”

Abbott will host the discussion at his Parliament House office.

O’Neill said he and the Australian Prime Minister had a good working relationship and had regular contact. While they met informally on the sidelines of APEC and at the Gough Whitlam Memorial in November, their last formal meeting was when Prime Minister Abbott visited Port Moresby in October.