THE United States says its partnership with Papua New Guinea is gaining fresh momentum, driven by expanded people-to-people exchanges, sports diplomacy and digital initiatives.
US Embassy Port Moresby Charge d’Affaires Alex Berenberg made the remarks at the American Center on Monday, October 5, while outlining recent bilateral engagements and areas of growing cooperation.
Mr Berenberg said the engagements demonstrated the depth and strength of the US-PNG relationship, which is built on friendship, shared values and a common history, while looking towards a shared future.
He said earlier this month the Embassy welcomed a World War II historian on a US-funded speaker’s program tour.
The embassy also brought together leaders from PNG’s sporting community to celebrate and strengthen sports diplomacy connections.
“Over the past two months, we have sent leaders from news media, sports management, digital infrastructure and government sectors to the United States on US-funded exchange programs,” he said.
He added that a high-level delegation of PNG Members of Parliament is currently in the US for a 10-day exchange programs under the Congressional Office for International Leadership’s Open World Program.
Mr Berenberg highlighted that PNG digital infrastructure leaders are also in the US for an International Visitor Leadership Program on Advancing Digital Technology Infrastructure, visiting Washington D.C. and Hawaii to meet experts, subsea cable manufacturers and regional security institutions.
On digital transformation, he said PNG is an exciting place and the US looks forward to partnering on the future of the digital economy.
He noted a forum on Digital Transformation at the Ground Level was hosted last week for journalists, SME owners, content creators and government leaders, featuring innovative voices in digital communication and cybersecurity.
“The digital era has arrived in PNG and both countries can work together to foster open, secure and transparent technology. Across defence, diplomacy and commerce, the Embassy is building capacity across the country,” he said.
On the Strategic Partnership, Mr Berenberg highlighted the Strategic Partnership Dialogue, visits by US officials in May and September, and bilateral talks between Prime Minister James Marape and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Palau and at the UN General Assembly in New York.
“The United States is doing a lot here and we’re excited about all that we’re doing with Papua New Guinea,” Mr Berenberg concluded.