A sustainable partnership ¢ We are committed to strengthening cooperation in Papua New Guinea`s priority economic corridors and regions to boost growth, improve stability and improve service delivery. We are committed to working together to strengthen accredited training facilities across Papua New Guinea, and Australia is working hand in hand to address the health and economic damage caused by COVID-19. Prime Minister Morrison noted that in addition to the more than $340 million in COVID-19 assistance that Australia has provided to support Papua New Guinea`s response to the pandemic, Australia will provide an additional $35 million in sector budget support to the Government of Papua New Guinea`s Primary Schools Grant to ensure that approximately 1.1 million primary school students can continue their education. Prime Minister Marape thanked Australia for its unwavering commitment to a full supply of COVID-19 vaccines for PAPUA New Guinea and delivery support. Reaffirming and understanding the principles set out in the Boe Declaration, we commit ourselves to open consultations, exchange of information and develop bilateral and regional institutional partnerships. Initiatives such as the Australia-Pacific Security College and the Pacific Fusion Centre will contribute to this collaboration. Ensure transparency and visibility in the definition of development cooperation priorities and financial allocations. We recognize Papua New Guinea`s commitment to devote 50 per cent of donor programmes to supporting improved and high-quality social and economic infrastructure, in line with medium-term development plans. We commit to continue to prioritize infrastructure support through grants and other funds, in balance with other development priorities. We recognize the mutual benefits of improved labour mobility for our countries and economic development. We will strengthen our cooperation to strengthen accredited institutions for the provision of technical vocational training (TVET), secondary and tertiary diplomas. In addition, we will support the work of research institutions, the digitization of education and the expansion of professional ties, including alumni networks.
Recognizing the importance of health for growth and stability, we are committed to strengthening cooperation to ensure that our critical infrastructure remains resilient and safe. In this context, we recognize the importance of an open, free and secure Internet to stimulate economic growth, protect national security and promote stability in cyberspace. We commit to strengthen our existing cooperation in the areas of cybersecurity, digital security and improving the information and communication technology sector in Papua New Guinea. We recognize the importance of safe and open shipping routes to facilitate trade, and he also noted that Papua New Guinea looks forward to accessing financial support from the Australian Pacific Infrastructure Finance Facility, which is presented as support for the provision of quality infrastructure needed to support the country`s economic growth and recovery. Economies that take into account each other`s particular economic needs and opportunities. We recognize the value of close cooperation and information sharing to address public health crises and commit to further strengthen our cooperation, including welcoming cooperation under AIFFP to provide high-quality, climate-resilient port infrastructure that will bring significant economic and social benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea. Commit to expanding cooperation on resource acquisition and capacity building, including by increasing the number of Papua New Guineans participating in the Pacific Workforce Programme and the Seasonal Worker Programme. We recognize that the private sector is essential to the promotion of economic cooperation and development and recognize the role that our Governments play in promoting a vibrant private sector. We will continue to work with the private sector in both countries, including through cooperation with the Economic Councils and the Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Trade Dialogue Forum. We are committed to researching and sustainably developing our natural resources for the benefit of our peoples and future generations. We will foster closer, business-oriented collaboration across our extractive sectors, including mining equipment and services, standards and research. As Pacific Blue Nations, we are committed to maximizing the profits of our fisheries resources through sustainable management and cooperation in monitoring our exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in our waters.
We support clean, healthy and productive oceans, the sustainable use of marine resources, the reduction of plastic and waste in our oceans and the growth of the global blue economy. The PESC provides a sustainable and comprehensive framework to deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas of security, trade and investment, governance, development cooperation, health, education, gender equality, climate change, people-to-people and institutional linkages, underpinned by a commitment to achieve concrete results by 2030. Our progress in these areas will be reviewed regularly, with a full review in 2030. Our partnership will build on a solid foundation: the 1987 Joint Declaration of Principles Guiding Australia-Papua New Guinea Relations (amended in 1992) and the 2013 Joint Declaration for a New Partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia. It is guided by the following principles: This Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (SPP) strengthens the close ties between our two countries and reinforces our ambitious vision for the future. In doing so, we are committed to improving our relationships, accelerating our strategic and economic cooperation, and strengthening the close ties between our employees, institutions and communities. We are entering into this partnership at a time when the mutual value of our friendship has been clearly demonstrated by our response to natural disasters and a global pandemic and their impact on our economies. « I am particularly pleased that the agreement recognizes our government`s goal of dedicating 50% of donor programs to supporting improved, high-quality social and economic infrastructure that is consistent with our long-term goals, » said Mr. Marape.
The agreement aims to improve relations in areas such as security, social and human development and economic cooperation. Prime Minister Marape said that « each of these pillars embodies the mutual values and beliefs that our two nations share », adding that the partnership is part of PNG`s foreign policy approach of « friends for all and enemies for no one ». The Prime Ministers welcomed the close partnership that Australia and Papua New Guinea have established to address infrastructure needs in Papua New Guinea, including through the Australian Pacific Infrastructure Finance Fund (AIFFP). They discussed the pipeline of sustainable and high-quality infrastructure projects, including transport-related infrastructure and energy projects, being developed under the AIFFP. Premiers also discussed Australia`s financial assistance to support Papua New Guinea`s economic reforms and fiscal consolidation, as well as the suspension of Papua New Guinea`s principal and interest repayments on a loan from Australia in 2020, in line with the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Prime Minister Marape welcomed the confidence of Australian companies such as Santos, Fortescue Future Industries and Telstra to invest in Papua New Guinea despite global economic challenges. As a long-standing security partner, we share a common strategic interest in ensuring the security of our region. We recognize the strong and enduring relationship between our security agencies and recognize their contribution to the creation of a stable, peaceful and prosperous region. We will conduct a joint review of the use of Australian technical advisers for all sectoral programmes.
We recognize the evolution of our relationship and commit to achieving our common goals through the steps set out in this partnership and other mutually agreed measures – A statement from the Marape Bureau says the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (PESC) between Papua New Guinea and Australia provides the strategic context to strengthen relations between the two countries over the next decade and beyond. PNG Prime Minister James Marape and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, signed the partnership yesterday at a virtual summit. The Prime Ministers recognized the enormous value of preserving Papua New Guinea`s forests, also in contributing to the global response to climate change, which poses particularly serious challenges in the Pacific. They agreed that Australia would provide additional support to Papua New Guinea`s forest sector, including support for nature-based climate solutions projects. .
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