On the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, held a bilateral meeting with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting focused on strengthening mutual relations and advancing discussions on the establishment of Papua New Guinea’s first diplomatic mission in the Gulf region, specifically in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Abdullah reaffirmed the UAE government’s formal support for PNG to establish its diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi.
Minister Tkatchenko welcomed this development, thanking His Highness and stating that PNG looks forward to opening its mission, which will mark a significant milestone in PNG’s diplomatic engagement with the Middle East.
He highlighted that the establishment of the mission would create avenues to expand trade and investment opportunities, particularly in key commodities such as coffee, chocolate, gold refining, and tuna.
Sheikh Abdullah also extended an invitation for PNG to participate in the upcoming Water Conference to be hosted by the UAE Government and expressed interest in enhancing cooperation in priority areas including digital transformation, visa facilitation, air services, and a Double Taxation Agreement.
Additionally, he conveyed the UAE’s interest in becoming a Post-Forum Dialogue Partner with the Pacific Islands Forum and welcomed PNG’s support in this endeavor.
The meeting concluded with both leaders acknowledging the importance of continued collaboration and the mutual benefits of deeper engagement between PNG and UAE.