PNG to host Japan, US leaders

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe

PAPUA New Guinea will be hosting two of the world’s more powerful leaders – Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and former United States President Bill Clinton this month.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill told the media yesterday that the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea are ready to host the leader of the third biggest economy in the world, Prime Minister Abe, who arrives this Thursday in Port Moresby and will fly to Wewak for a day on Friday before he returns to Japan on Saturday.

Mr O’Neill also said on July 20, former United States President Bill Clinton will be in PNG with a 100-member delegation to visit and see for himself the progress and work that his foundation – Clinton Foundation – has been doing in PNG.

The Clinton Foundation has helped PNG immensely in its HIV/AIDS program and others. Mr Clinton will also be in Goroka when he visits later this month.

"We are hosting the leader of the third biggest economy in the world, one of the leading countries in the G7 and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)," Prime Minister O’Neill said yesterday.

"Japanese Prime Minister Abe will be accompanied by more than 200 plus government and business persons and he will be visiting this Thursday July 10th to the 12th."

Mr O’Neill spoke of Japan’s business interest Japan in PNG, especially in the gas and petroleum industry and about how major multi-billion companies are now eyeing PNG for business.

"These world class leaders are concerned about what’s happening in our country and they want to help. This is a good exposure for PNG," Mr O’Neill said.

He said rather than paint a negative picture about PNG, our people and elites should focus on positive activities.