This week I will travel to Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, to renew and strengthen Australia’s ties with two of our nearest neighbours.
Our relationship with Papua New Guinea is profoundly important to Australia, as a close partner and regional leader.
I will meet with Prime Minister the Hon. James Marape MP following his re-election earlier this month, as well as my counterpart, the Hon. Justin Tkatchenko MP, and other members of PNG’s new Cabinet.
I will also meet the two women newly elected to PNG’s Parliament, Central Province Governor, the Hon. Rufina Peter MP and Member for Rai Coast Open, the Hon. Kessy Sawang MP.
I look forward to hearing views from PNG’s leaders and my priority will be to ensure we are pursuing our shared ambitions on the basis of trust, open communication and mutual support.
On Wednesday, I will travel to Timor-Leste, where I will meet President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister, His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak.
I will also meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Her Excellency Adaljiza Magno, and Minister of Finance, His Excellency Dr Rui Augusto Gomes.
Australia and Timor-Leste are close neighbours, with a shared history and strong people-to-people links.
As always, my approach will be to listen, and I look forward to discussing how Australia can continue to support Timor-Leste’s economic development, ASEAN and WTO bids, and labour mobility priorities.
Australia is committed to working together with both Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste in the interests of a stable, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
