BY Gabriel Katuho
THE Indonesian Parliamentary bilateral cooperation group delegation have arrived in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to discuss and strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The delegation, consisting of nine members of the Parliamentary Bilateral cooperation group and three staff, arrived on Thursday.
They engaged in a productive bilateral meeting with the parliament of PNG and held discussions with Acting Speaker Hon. Koni Iguan, Assistant Speaker Hon. Johnson Wapunai, and the Clerk of the National Parliament of PNG.
During a press conference in Port Moresby Hon. Putu Supadma Rudana, Vice Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the significance of the visit.
“As the bilateral group, we want to reach out because PNG is the most important neighbor to Indonesia. We share a border and face common challenges,” Mr. Supadma Rudana said.
He expressed the desire for increased cooperation between the two nations, focusing on people-to-people connections, parliamentary collaboration, and potential future business partnerships. Under the parliamentary cooperation framework, Indonesia intends to sign an MOU with PNG.
Mr. Rudana mentioned that a draft of the MOU has already been prepared, encompassing various aspects such as strengthening parliamentary cooperation, building alliances through bilateral parliamentary groups, enhancing capacity building between the two parliaments, supporting each other in international forums, and promoting more visits to PNG.
Facilitating intergovernmental visits between the two countries was highlighted as a means to foster a better understanding of parliamentary systems, cultures, and operational procedures.
Mr. Rudana emphasized that PNG and Indonesia, being in the same geopolitical group, can address significant global issues more effectively through their cooperation in international forums.
Invitations were extended to the Minister for Defense and other ministers to visit Indonesia, and Mr. Rudana expressed his commitment to encourage his fellow ministers to reciprocate the visits.
Furthermore, President Jokovidodo of Indonesia is scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea next month, signifying a forward-looking approach to strengthening the ties between both nations.
