President Duterte also expresses “full support” for PNG’s APEC chairmanship
(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his commitment for a stronger relationship and friendship with Papua New Guinea during the official visit of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in Malacañan Palace, where the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agriculture cooperation that would further boost food security in both countries.
President Duterte hosted a dinner in honor of Prime Minister O’Neill at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace following the meetings.
“I see friendship and cooperation being deepened by a common commitment towards a future where prosperity is shared and the comfort and security of our peoples are assured,” President Duterte during his dinner remarks to toast to the friendship between the two countries.
“We agreed to work together on matters of mutual interest, particularly in reinvigorating trade and investment, as well as strengthening the very important agricultural and fisheries sectors,” he said.
The President also expressed his support for the chairmanship of Papua New Guinea in this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
He congratulated Prime Minister O’Neill and expressed his “full support” for Papua New Guinea’s APEC chairmanship this year.
“The Philippines is positive that under Prime Minister O’Neill’s leadership, APEC will continue to be an important forum for ensuring sustained and inclusive economic growth and development in the region,” Duterte said during the joint press conference with the Papua New Guinea leader on Wednesday, May 15.
There are 35,000 Filipinos in Papua New Guinea while there are hundreds of Papua New Guinea citizens studying in the Philippines.
Duterte said that these are “living bridges of friendship that we intend to strengthen and nurture in the years to come.”
“The Philippines will further deepen our engagement with Papua New Guinea as we fully support your Chairmanship, Prime Minister O’Neill and we truly — I’m confident that under your leadership, we can articulate and uphold our common desire to provide comfortable and dignified life for our peoples,” he said in his toast during Wednesday’s dinner.
-PNG Prime Minister expresses appreciation for PHL friendship, support –
The Prime Minister then expressed his appreciation to President Duterte’s support, saying that it is Papua New Guinea’s first time to host the APEC meetings since becoming a member some 21 years ago.
“It is a regional economic bloc, significantly important to both our countries and the 21 leaders of those APEC economies will be in Port Moresby in November 2018 and we will certainly welcome the President to be with us on that occasion,” O’Neill said.
President Duterte meanwhile underscored the “strong and cordial bilateral relationship” between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
“Indeed over the past four decades, we have seen our ties steadily grow. What is different now is that the Philippines and Papua New Guinea want these ties to significantly broaden and deepen our concrete and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Duterte said.
For his part, Prime Minister O’Neill thanked President Duterte for expressing his sympathies to the victims of the recent earthquake in Papua New Guinea.
He likewise lauded the “very strong presence of the Filipino investment community,” as well as the Filipinos working in Papua New Guinea, noting that Filipino workers in his country provide good technical support, especially in terms of health and education.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister went to Rizal Park offered a wreath at the foot of the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal to honor the country’s national hero. He arrived in the country on Tuesday, May 15, for a three-day official visit and will leave the country for Japan on May 17.
Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an Oceanian country that is considered as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. It established its sovereignty in 1975. (Eagle News Service)