Wednesday 21 August 2024
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape (right) with President-Elect of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, at their joint press conference, Stanley Hotel, Port Moresby, this afternoon.
The President-Elect of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, made an official visit to Papua New Guinea, where he was warmly received by Prime Minister Hon. James Marape.
The two leaders held a press conference at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby, marking a significant step in the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.
Prime Minister Marape highlighted the importance of the meeting, emphasizing the strong foundational ties between PNG and Indonesia.
“Today we concluded a very good meet and greet. We touched on core fundamentals of our relationship, first and foremost, respecting each of our nation’s sovereignty, as we share a common land border and common people ties,” Marape stated.
The Prime Minister expressed optimism about the future of the relationship, especially in the continuation of the Marape-Widodo Border Relations.
“The President-Elect has given the full assurance that the work of the leaders’ dialogue we had with the Republic of Indonesia will continue on.
“Our work with the Republic of Indonesia in Defence exchange, educational exchange, or other exchanges will carry on, and we will look more into business-to-business relationships to fine-tune this relationship,” Mr Marape added.
In a gesture of deepening ties, Prime Minister Marape extended an invitation to President-Elect Subianto to return to PNG for the country’s 50th Anniversary celebrations next year, which was graciously accepted.
“We have concluded a wonderful bilateral and our focus remains on working more on people-to-people and business-to-business relationships,” Marape said, underscoring the mutual commitment to fostering closer cooperation.
President-Elect Prabowo Subianto, in his remarks, expressed his gratitude for the visit and the warmth of the reception.
Reflecting on his earlier interactions with Prime Minister Marape, he said, “The few minutes I’ve met, I felt your sincerity, your friendship, and your wisdom as a leader, and I became convinced that I must foster and enhance this friendship and relationship with our two countries.”
Mr Subianto also conveyed his eagerness to collaborate closely with PNG in various sectors, noting the unique bond between the two nations.
“We want to work more and more together in industry, defense, mining, and all other aspects,” he stated.
Additionally, he extended a personal invitation to Prime Minister Marape to attend his upcoming inauguration, signaling the strength of their partnership.