Trade, security issues discussed at forum, says PM

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 4th September, 2012

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill said yesterday several important bilateral discussions were held during the Pacific Islands Forum and claimed it was best yet.
O’Neill, who returned from the week-long meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, said several important bilateral trade and security issues were discussed.
He said some of the issues discussed were climate change issues, which were now a concern for many Pacific Islands nations, regional security, of which asylum seekers was a concern for countries like Australia and Papua New Guinea.
O’Neill said besides the forum meeting, he was able to meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss other bilateral issues.
He said the US was pleased with PNG in taking the lead in the tuna agreement between the US and Pacific Islands, particularly Nauru and Kiribati.
He said the US was interested in working with PNG and to help by supplying technical support in setting up the Sovereign Wealth Fund before the 2014 liquefied natural gas project came on stream.