PNG visit

This announcement comes following an initial visit by an advance team from the Vatican who met with Prime Minister James Marape in February and discussed the proposed date and arrangements for the papal visit.

The Holy See Press Office has now announced in a statement the Pope’s visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timo Leste and Singapore.

Minister Tkatchenko said the visit by the Holy Father Pope Francis, which is scheduled for August 25th to 28th, will be coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and National Events.

He said Prime Minister James Marape has accepted the confirmation of the Papal visit and that line agencies have begun the process of hosting this important event of the year.

Meanwhile, Minister Tkatchenko announced that there will be a submission to the National Executive Council for National Events where all nine positions will be advised for a new structure.

PM Marape visits the People’s Republic of China from 16^th- 19^th October 2023.

Before embarking on his visit, Marape is set to deliver the keynote address at the Inaugural PNG-Asia Investment Conference in Hong Kong on October 16, then departs for Beijing on the same day.

His visit to Hong Kong on October 15 will commence with a bilateral meeting with John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, followed by a series of meetings with major Chinese and Asian Investors.

Rosso, who is also Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Lands, Physical Planning and Urbanization, is in the Solomon Islands to give prominence to the work that the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (PNGICSA) and the Solomon Island Immigration Division (SIID) is undertaking in preparation for the Pacific Games in November.

Rosso met with Prime Minister Sogavare and relevant Ministers on requests by the Solomon Islands Government for assistance with immigration and border security, and police.

The invitation was extended during a meeting between Prime Minister Marape and Walid Fouque, Special Advisor for Asia and the Pacific to President Macron, held in Port Moresby on June 5, 2023.

This visit follows previous encounters between President Macron and Prime Minister Marape, including a meeting at the One Forest Summit in Gabon earlier this year and their attendance at APEC 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. President Macron's visit to Port Moresby will commence at 11am on July 28 and conclude at 5pm on the same day.

The bilateral meeting at the APEC House with Papua New Guinea government leaders led by Prime Minister James Marape had the two leaders discuss economic relations, shifting focus of formal talks from border issues to trade, business and people relations.

Prime Minister Marape announced that President Widodo has committed a K55 million grant for facilities at the Port Moresby General Hospital, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the mortuary. 

The Indonesian delegation and President Widodo including PNG government leaders have vacated APEC house for their departure. 

The visit holds immense potential for fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and mutually beneficial partnerships between the two regions.

Guandong Province, often hailed as China's "economic powerhouse," boasts the fastest-growing economy among all thirty-one provinces in the country.

Situated on the southern coast, the province is home to Shenzhen City, which shares sister-city status with Port Moresby. With a staggering population exceeding 128 million, Shenzhen City stands as China's most populous city province.

The delegation is made up of politicians, government officials and leaders of business in Korea.

Delegation leader Park Byeong-seug, who is representing Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, revealed this to Prime Minister James Marape during a meeting at Sir Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby yesterday. He said this was largely due to the leadership of Prime Minister Marape.

“Trade volume last year (2022) between Korea and Papua New Guinea recorded US$1.8 billion dollars, which was a 240 per cent increase compared to the previous year,” he told PM Marape.

Key points:

• Australia and PNG hope to strengthen ties during Anthony Albanese's two-day visit 
• Security has become a key focus for the region after China and Solomon Islands signed a defence pact 
• Australian aid remains contentious among some Papua New Guineans concerned about debt levels and corruption

Australian flags have been hoisted across Port Moresby, and Mr Albanese's face has been put up on billboards, alongside PNG Prime Minister James Marape's.

He will be in the country for a two-day official visit from January 12-13th to attend the Annual Leaders' Dialogue with counterpart Prime Minister Marape in Port Moresby.

Following the Dialogue, the Prime Ministers will travel together to Wewak to visit the resting place of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

“We look forward to the visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese to PNG,” Prime Minister Marape said.