PNG committed to APEC objectives, says PM

PAPUA New Guinea has indicated its commitment to the APEC objectives as adopted under the Bogor Goals, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said.
O’Neill has asked for Australia’s help to host the 2018 APEC meeting in PNG.
O’Neill request came during the signing of the PNG asylum centre and human processing centre in Manus deal during the APEC leaders meeting in Russia last week. 
“In terms of the discussions for the APEC retreat, I agree that we need to focus on food security, higher education, financial integration and capital mobility to achieve the APEC objectives that are espoused under the Bogor Goals,” he said.
“PNG remains committed to the APEC objectives and is experiencing measured progress in areas such as investment and trade facilitation, business mobility, tariff reduction, counter-terrorism, market access and customs harmonisation, among others.”
O’Neill indicated to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that PNG would be seeking help from Australia in its bid to host the APEC meeting in 2018.
“PNG, as you may now be aware, has expressed its intention to host APEC in 2018.
“The logistical, security and administrative aspects are massive and I intend to seek your government’s assistance, particularly in the area of infrastructure development, security detailing and management and finance of overall conferencing arrangements in the lead up to 2018,” he said.
O’Neill and Gillard at the end of the signing ceremony and agreed that PNG and Australia would continue to work together on issues of mutual interest.