Australian High Commissioner Deborah Stokes is leaving after completing two years duty in Papua New Guinea with the thanks of the Government for her contribution to development in our nation.
High Commissioner Stokes will complete her posting this month following a period during which Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said he had seen Australia and Papua New Guinea successfully manage a number of important issues in the bilateral relationship.
“Australia is Papua New Guinea’s largest trading partner and the biggest investor in our nation,” PM O’Neill said.
“There are also a number of important bilateral and regional policy issues that have required careful management in the best interests of both countries.
“Working together our two countries have been able to stop people smuggling from Indonesia to Australia.
“Australia has also continued to engage meaningfully with Papua New Guinea particularly in the areas of healthcare and education and I thank High Commissioner Stokes for her support in these areas.
“As Papua New Guinea prepares to host APEC in 2018 our security cooperation with Australia continues to expand.
“Papua New Guinea appreciates this engagement that will help to ensure a safe and successful APEC year when we welcome world leaders to our shores.”
PM O’Neill said engagement between Papua New Guinea and Australia was at times robust but always warm as two countries that maintain similar interest in stability and prosperity in the region.
“Through our engagement directly with Australia, and through multilateral forums that include the Pacific Islands Forum and APEC, we seek to find common ground to advance our shared interests.
“I thank High Commissioner Stokes for her contribution to development in our nation, and wish her every success as she returns to Canberra.”
Prime Minister O’Neill received the courtesy call from High Commissioner Stokes on Tuesday, 7 July.