Manaseh Sogavare

Mr Sogavare, who is also Solomon Islands' prime minister, met with his PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill in the last leg of his consultations with MSG leaders.

It's his second and final such tour since taking up the chairmanship of the sub-regional grouping in 2015.

Regarding West Papua, the Chair confirmed with Mr O'Neill that an application for full MSG membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua would be dealt with under revised MSG Membership criteria.

According to his press secretary Deli Oso, Sogavare already visited two other MSG capitals of Port Vila, Vanuatu, and Suva, Fiji in January.

He did not travel to Port Moresby because his counterpart, Peter O’Neil was unavailable at the time.

Sogavare also met New Caledonia’s FLNKs representative in his January visit to Port Vila.

And while in Suva, Sogavare witnessed the signing of the new Melanesian Free Trade Agreement by Fiji’s Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama.