PNG committed to preserve rainforest, PM tells Apec meeting

PRIME Minister James Marape says PNG may be the smallest Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economy but is well-endowed with natural resources.
He addressed the Apec economic leaders’ meeting hosted by New Zealand virtually. “Papua New Guinea, in our small way, commit ourselves to preserving 13 per cent of the world’s rainforests that we have. And we commit ourselves to preserving 6 per cent of the world’s bio-diversity that we have.”
Marape appealed to the Apec leaders to know these global assets PNG has in light of climate change and mitigation issues and assist PNG in conservation.
He said most of the Apec economies visited PNG in 2018 when it hosted the meeting. “You would have realised that we live in the middle of east and west, we live in the middle of north and south,” he said.
“We are the smallest economy, amid each and every one of you. But we are a voice – especially advocating for small (Pacific) island nations, the smaller nations, the weaker nations. We can be a pointer to you bigger economies on how to link to each and every one, and help humanity.”