PNG and Australia discuss APEC Security

Papua New Guinea and Australia are meeting this week as part of the Government’s preparations to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit in 2018.

Teams of key government departments have started a policy workshop this week to start the 2016 APEC preparations.

Chief Secretary to the Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc said the meetings with Australia will identify areas in which the two countries can work together to deliver safety and security measures for the APEC summit, as well as advancing important policy development.

These meetings will be the first of a series of consultations with twenty other member economies that will take part in APEC summit to be held in Papua New Guinea.

"APEC is an international forum and we work with other participating economies to advance policy objectives and ensure security co-operation," the Chief Secretary said.

Papua New Guinea will chair APEC policy development process in 2018 that is aimed at stimulating regional economic integration and growth, Zurenuoc said.

"We also have on going consultation with the Philippines as the host in 2015, as well as Peru and Vietnam as upcoming hosts."

Sir Manasupe said safety and security preparations are one of the most intensive components of preparing to host APEC summits and these matters will be discussed throughout this week.

APEC Papua New Guinea 2018 will bring more than 10,000 delegates to locations around PNG to discuss important economic policy matters that include increasing regional trade and investment, and development in sectors that include agriculture, maritime resources, tourism, mining and transportation.