Photo credit: Canberra Times
The third Papua New Guinea-Australia Annual Leaders' Dialogue was conducted virtually on December 8, 2021, between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister James Marape.
The two Prime Ministers recognized the fundamental importance of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea, as well as our shared interests in a safe, stable, peaceful, wealthy, and democratic region. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia (CSEP).
Papua New Guinea and Australia are collaborating to combat COVID-19's health and economic consequences. In addition to the more than $340 million in COVID-19-related assistance that Australia has provided to support Papua New Guinea's response to the pandemic, Prime Minister Morrison announced that Australia will contribute an additional $35 million in sector budget support to the Papua New Guinea Government's tuition fee subsidy for primary schools, ensuring that around 1.1 million primary school students can continue their education. Prime Minister Marape commended Australia for its unwavering commitment to provide PNG with a complete COVID-19 vaccine supply and distribution assistance.
The Prime Ministers also talked about Australia's financial support for Papua New Guinea's economic reforms and budget repair, as well as the suspension of Papua New Guinea's principle and interest obligations on a 2020 loan from Australia, as part of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Despite global economic concerns, Prime Minister Marape praised Australian corporations such as Santos, Fortescue Future Industries, and Telstra for their willingness to invest in Papua New Guinea.
The Prime Ministers praised the tight cooperation between Australia and Papua New Guinea in meeting Papua New Guinea's development requirements, which includes the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). They addressed the AIFFP's pipeline of high-quality, long-term infrastructure projects, including transportation-related infrastructure and energy projects. They expressed their enthusiasm for working together under the AIFFP to build high-quality, climate-resilient ports infrastructure that would benefit the people of Papua New Guinea economically and socially.
The Prime Ministers recognized the need of conserving Papua New Guinea's forests, including contributing to the global response to climate change, which poses a particular threat to the Pacific. They agreed that Australia will offer greater assistance to the forestry industry in Papua New Guinea, including project funding for nature-based climate solutions. At COP26 in Glasgow, Prime Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Building Capacity for Participation in Global Carbon Markets, creating a cooperation under the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offsets Scheme.
The Prime Ministers reviewed Australia's long-standing support for PNG's national election procedures, highlighting ongoing collaboration through their respective national election boards as well as logistical and other support for PNG's national election in 2022.
The Prime Ministers discussed the Solomon Islands Government's request for Australia and Papua New Guinea to deploy quickly with Fiji and New Zealand to bolster the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force's response to public disturbance. They emphasized the necessity of peacefully, legally, and via communication settling any conflicts.
The Prime Ministers agreed to keep working together to address the Pacific family's common issues. They talked on the relevance of the Pacific Islands Forum and its crucial role in responding to shared issues, as well as their wishes for the Forum's sustained unity.
Reference: Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council (9 December 2021). “Joint Statement: Papua New Guinea-Australia Annual Leaders Dialogue
