Highlights of Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, her first official visit to Papua New Guinea.
The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong Official visit to Papua New Guinea
Australia Senator Wong on her recent official visit to Papua New Guinea twitted that she was honoured to meet with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Hon. James Marape. This is Wong’s first visit to Papua New Guinea as Foreign Minister of Australia. Australia’s relationship with PNG is profoundly important. As Whitlam said in 1975, it is a relationship of equals, based on mutual respect, understanding and trust, stated Wong.
On her first official visit to Papua New Guinea, Senator Wong also met with her Papua New Guinea counterpart Hon. Justin Tkatchenko. She congratulated Mr. Tkatchenko on his appointment as Foreign Minister, following the recent election. Wong twitted, “We had constructive discussions on a wide range of issues from regional security, labour mobility to rugby league.”
The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong also met with Central Province Governor Rufina Peter and Rai Coast Open MP Kessy Sawang. Rufina and Kessy are the first women elected to Papua New Guinea National Parliament since 2017. Senator Wong according to her twitter post, stated that voices of Peter and Sawang in parliament will be an asset for Papua New Guinea.
Australia Senator Wong on her recent official visit to Papua New Guinea also met with the staff and students of one of the pioneer National Highschool of the country, Sogeri National School of Excellence. This is what Senetor Penny Wong twitted after her visit; “I was so impressed by the students I met at Sogeri National School of Excellence. After a traditional sing sing welcome, I joined a panel with Guina Koko, the school’s Grade 11 Female Co-President and Sophia Mrs Sophia Soli, a Drone Pilot and Coordinator of PNG Flying Labs.”
Senator Wong also met Papua New Guinea National Broadcasting Commission (NBC PNG) staff, Stephen Mase and Waliagai Olewale on NBC PNG radio station for an interview.
