Australia’s relationship with Papua New Guinea ‘very important’: Anthony Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has discussed the “very important” relationship Australia has with Papua New Guinea. Mr Albanese is in Papua New Guinea ahead of his historic trek along the Kokoda Trail in the lead-up to ANZAC Day. The Prime Minister touched down just a day after China’s Foreign Minister flew out of Port Moresby. “The relationship with Papua New Guinea is very important and we signed an upgraded defence agreement when he was in Australia last December,” Mr Albanese told Sky News Australia. “Prime Minister Marape was the first Pacific leader to address our Parliament in February. “I was the first foreign leader to address the Parliament here in Port Moresby last year. “We are less than 1,000 kilometres from the mainland of Australia from Cape York, and so it’s a very important and close relationship that we have. “It was certainly forged during World War Two, and ever since then, we’ve been mates, and we will continue to be so into the future.”