Korea-Pacific Islands Summit

The bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of South Korea, Han Duck-soo and key leaders, was significant. The PM emphasized that PNG could learn many lessons from the third biggest economy.

Prime Minister Marape and Deputy Prime Minister Marles discussed issues of concern for both countries including giving each other updates on the recently signed Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States and the proposed Bilateral Security Treaty (BST) with Australia, Visa issues and the PNG NRL Bid.

He informed Mr Marles that the Bilateral Security Treat that Australia would like to have with Papua New Guinea is a work in progress at the moment.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, Vice Minister for Finance and Implementation, John Boito, and Vice Minister for Treasury, Solen Loifa.

From the Korean party, President Yoon came to the meeting with Prime Minister of Korea, Duck-Soo Han, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Park Jin.

At the commencement of the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Marape personally gave recognition to the Republic of Korea as one of Papua New Guinea’s biggest trading partners.