PNG, Fiji to host first senior officials meeting

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato yesterday announced  the first Papua New Guinea-Fiji senior officials meeting in Suva today.
The meeting followed an agreement in a joint communiqué signed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in 2013 and confirmed during a bilateral meeting between Pato and Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola last month.
Pato welcomed the meeting aimed at updating the countries on the respective government plans and future engagements.
The meeting will focus on:

• Bilateral issues, including 2014 Fiji general election;
• land allocation for PNG High Commission at Muanikau, Suva;
• trade and investments;
• defence force cooperation;
• PNG-Fiji Business Council; 
• investment in PNG LNG project;
• tourism and hospitality courses offered by Fiji to PNG, and,
• Engagement of workers under the Fiji Overseas Public Service Scheme.

Pato said: “PNG and Fiji have established a strong and vibrant relationship that includes trade and investment, cooperation in regional integrated matters and people to people exchange.
“Both parties are members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
“Since Fiji returned to parliamentary democracy in Sept 2014, Fiji has begun re-engaging with countries in the Pacific.”