PM Marape Represents PNG at APEC 2020

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says it is a great privilege and honor for him to represent Papua New Guinea at the 2020 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting virtually.

The 27th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held late on Friday night until the early hours of Saturday morning was the first-ever virtual meeting because of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Marape joined in conversation with world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Korean President Moon Jae-In, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and others.

He said the APEC Leaders represented countries who controlled 60 per cent of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"Today was a privilege for PNG to also participate, virtually, at this forum," Prime Minister Marape said.

"We are a small economy, very much dependent on what is happening globally, so it was a privilege to talk with the movers and shakers of the world economy.

"We spoke on par with them on how we are trying our very best to expose our small country, especially the potential we have."

Prime Minister Marape said larger APEC Economies like China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia could purchase products from PNG.

"Interfacing with them through open, robust dialogue with these big nations is very beneficial to Papua New Guinea," he said."I look forward to a time when all our produce can be easily exported to these economies," he said.

Prime Minister Marape said he was supposed to have gone to APEC 2019 in Chile, however, the event was cancelled.

"We are very fortunate to be in this exclusive club of APEC nations who we can sell our produce to and also interface," he said.

"Tonight I was privileged to speak to all the world leaders including President Trump, President Xi Jinping, President Putin.

"In the Indo-Pacific neighbourhood we had the Australian Prime Minister, New Zealand Prime Minister, Phillipines President, Indonesian President, Malaysian Prime Minister, Singapore Prime Minister, and others.

"It was a great opportunity as PNG continues to interface with them.

"Hopefully, in due time, we will to able to produce enough to supply to these markets close to us."

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