by Vanessa Knight – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Australia has expressed gratitude towards Papua New Guinea for its assistance in processing asylum seekers arriving via illegal boats into Australia.
Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, who arrived in PNG to participate in the final discussions of the 46th Pacific Islands Forum, extended his commendation of PNG during a bilateral meeting held with PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.
Abbott said Australia embraces its strong economic ties and values the partnership it shares with PNG, and is grateful for PNG’s assistance in terms of processing illegal boat arrivals in Australia, through the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre.
He said the two countries continued to maintain very strong ties and with so much development throughout PNG over recent years, this has given the people of PNG something to feel very optimistic about.
This is Prime Minister Abbott’s third visit to Papua New Guinea since becoming Australia’s PM.
The PIF Leaders Summit commenced on September 7 and will conclude tomorrow.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q7RQQM3OQW4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
