NZ and PNG pledge closer relations
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 21 February 2020
“New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have pledged to work together more closely at a leaders summit in Auckland.
“PNG prime minister James Marape began his four day state visit to New Zealand with bilateral discussions with his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern.
“Ms Ardern said while PNG was an important partner to New Zealand, its proximity had hindered the two countries having more engagements.
“However, the two leaders have agreed to change that, she said.
"Papua New Guinea is the largest Pacific island country and leader in the region. But proximity has often meant that we have perhaps not had as much engagement than we otherwise may have. And so you (Mr Marape) and I discussed that we'd like to collectively change that," Ms Ardern said.
“As part of PNG's plan to reform its public service, Mr Marape said he was seeking New Zealand expertise to help PNG's state owned enterprises.
“His government was studying the New Zealand public service as a kind of model, he said.”
Copyright @ 2020, Radio New Zealand.
