Prime Minister James Marape has announced that the Australian Prime Minister Hon Anthony Albanese will visit Papua New Guinea next week for a two-day official visit.
Prime Minister Albanese will travel to PNG from January 12-13 to attend the Annual Leaders’ Dialogue alongside in Port Moresby with PM Marape.
Following the Dialogue, the Prime Ministers will travel together to Wewak to visit the resting place of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
“We look forward to the visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese to PNG,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“I have spent time with my good friend, Prime Minister Albanese, on several occasions last year, including in Australia at the Prime Minister’s XIII Rugby League match.
“For Prime Minister Albanese to start the New Year with a visit to Papua New Guinea reinforces the strong bond between our two countries.
“Australia and Papua New Guinea have a long history and this visit will strengthen our shared vision for the future.
“Australia is a very-important foundation bilateral partner of PNG, in as far as nation-to-nation relations are concerned.
“This will be the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister to PNG since my ascension to the Office of Prime Minister on May 30, 2019.
“It is also special in that at the time of Independence in 1975, the Australian Labor Party led by the late Gough Whitlam was in Government in Australia, while the Pangu Pati led by the late Sir Michael Somare was in Government in PNG.
“Prime Minister Albanese has also indicated that he will be travelling all the way to Wewak to lay a wreath on the tomb of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.”
Prime Minister Marape assured the people of PNG that preparations were fully underway for the visit by Prime Minister Albanese.
