PM defends trips as marketing

PRIME Minister James Marape has told the people that his upcoming overseas trips are necessary because the “country’s connectivity to the world needs to be made”.
“Many ask me why the visits,” he said.
“We produce and we need to export to markets. And you have your prime minister as your number-one pitchman.” His itinerary includes stops in the United States, Hong Kong, China, and Australia.
He travels to the US this weekend for a summit with US President Joe Biden with other Pacific Island Forum leaders.
“My visit to the US will be followed by visits to Beijing and Hong Kong in October and November,” he said. “In December, I will once again be in the United States, attending the Apec Leaders’ Summit in San Francisco.
“I will (then) head to Australia for bilateral meetings with my counterpart, and to participate in the Mining Conference in Sydney.”
The Washington summit is to focus on strengthening democracy, combating authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights.
Marape stressed the significance of these discussions.
On the trip to China, he said he had a meeting planned with President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
“We will coincide that meeting with the first major international investment conference in Hong Kong, which is a sold-out conference right now,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to those organising the Hong Kong conference.
Meanwhile, Marape assured the nation that the Government would continue to function effectively during his absence.