Papua New Guinea and Australia will go into discussions finalising the Bilateral Security Treaty between the two countries this week when they meet for the official Ministerial forum in Canberra.
Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko said it would be an encompassing arrangement on the bilateral treaty which will benefit both PNG and Australia.
Full details of the treaty between the two countries and their arrangements will be released later this week after it is finalised.
Tkatchenko is currently in New Zealand where he is meeting his counterpart Hanaia Mahuta.
During his visit, he will be addressing labour mobility, the Defence Cooperation Treaty with New Zealand, visiting the visiting the Papua New Guinea women’s football team currently in New Zealand for the finals to give them moral support and visiting the PNG workers there before flying to Canberra.
“From there, we will head straight across to Canberra, Australia, to the National Parliament for the Ministerial Forum where some of my colleague ministers will be following me there,” he said.
“We will be discussing and finalising the Bilateral Security Treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“We will also be discussing, finalising and getting outcomes for our visa system between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“There will also be a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Australia and PNG Forestry, besides discussions on areas such as education, internal security, policing and defence force.
“It’s going to be a very busy but productive trip.
“I don’t take these trips for nothing, there must be positive outcomes, and it’s about making things happen between our two countries for the long-term benefit of our people in PNG.
“We will continue to strengthen our relationship between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and of course with Australia.
“There will be nine ministers from Australia participating with us in this ministerial forum.
“These relationships will only be bigger and better after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s official visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this year.
“We look forward to this 10-day of official trips with lots of outcomes for the benefit of the people of Papua New Guinea,” Tkatchenko said.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
