O’Neill, Abbott hold bilateral talks

PNG PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has met with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott to discuss ongoing bilateral relations between the Papua New Guinea and Australia.

The two prime ministers met at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday.

Mr O’Neill said it is important that ongoing high-level dialogue takes place with the nation’s close partner countries.

Mr Abbott hosted the discussion in his Parliament House office in Australia’s capital city.

Mr O’Neill was in Australia to launch the 13th Papua New Guinea mining and petroleum investment conference in Sydney.

"There are always a number of ongoing bilateral matters to discuss between our two countries and it is important to maintain communications," said Mr O’Neill.

"There is a strong partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea and we will continue to build on this relationship.

"We have a number of ongoing partnership arrangements that are relevant to Papua New Guinea’s core government policy areas such as education and healthcare.

"Australia has also been very supportive in relation to preparations for Papua New Guinea to host the APEC process in 2018 that will conclude with the leaders’ summit."

Mr O’Neill said he and Mr Abbott have a good working relationship and have regular contact.

While they met informally on the sidelines of APEC and at the Gough Whitlam memorial in November, their last formal meeting was when Mr Abbott visited Port Moresby in October.