PM to use Aust foreign minister’s visit to strengthen relations

PRIME Minister James Marape welcomed Australian Foreign Affairs and Women’s Minister Marise Payne to Papua New Guinea yesterday during her courtesy.
The meeting was an opportunity for Marape to reaffirm PNG’s commitment to strengthening and enhancing bilateral relations with Australia.
Marape said there would not be many changes in terms of PNG’s foreign policies and bilateral relations with Australia but he would be looking at areas to consolidate and strengthen, particularly existing relations.
He acknowledged Australia’s continuous contribution towards the nation’s development such as the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG) and the importance of the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in upskilling Papua New Guineans for the Australian job market.
He said their discussion was on Government’s priorities and stressed the need for reforming and strengthening the public sector by conducting regular training programmes in PNG for public servants.
Marape, in thanking Payne for her government’s support in conducting police programmes in the country, also encouraged continuation of the programmes.
In response, Payne reassured Marape of her support to further broadening the PNG-Australia
bilateral relations through comprehensive and economic partnership (CSEP) that would be built on key issues, priorities and values shared, as well as encouraging more business engagements with Papua New Guinea.
Payne said that Australia would focus on economic infrastructure which had a financing facility worth A$2 billion (K4.5bil) and would consider viable and transformative projects.