Outcome of Director-General for Asian and Pacific Affairs’ Visit to Papua New Guinea

1. Director-General for Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Sang-hoon, attended the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence held at the Parliament House in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday, September 16. He conveyed congratulatory remarks on behalf of the Korean government and people to key figures including Governor-General Bob Dadae and Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat. In response, the Papua New Guinean side expressed gratitude for Director-General Kim's visit to Port Moresby to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence. They stated that the past 50 years of Papua New Guinea's history have been a period of development not only for Papua New Guinea itself but also alongside important partners like Korea. They also expressed hope for the continued strengthening of cooperation over the next half-century.

2. On the same day, Director-General Kim held separate meetings with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, Papua New Guinea Foreign Secretary Elias Rahumuro Wohengu, and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Baron Waqa. Subsequently, on Wednesday, September 17, he held talks with Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade of Fiji.

※ Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): A summit-level consultative body established in 1971 for regional development in the South Pacific, comprising 14 Pacific Island countries, 2 French territories, Australia, and New Zealand.

3. In each meeting, Director-General Kim emphasized that the new Korean government will continue to strengthen relations with Pacific Island countries as part of its efforts to make responsible contributions to solving global challenges and diversify diplomacy through enhanced cooperation with key regional partners. In this context, he announced plans to host the 6th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul later this year. He stressed that this meeting will serve as a meaningful platform to deepen practical cooperation in areas such as climate crisis response, marine environmental conservation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, requesting the active participation and cooperation of the Pacific Island countries.

4. The Pacific Island countries expressed gratitude for Korea's sustained contributions to the economic and social development of the Pacific region. They particularly noted that the 6th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting would play a crucial role in strengthening cooperation between the Pacific Island countries and dialogue partners, including Korea. They pledged active support and cooperation for its successful hosting.

5. This visit to Papua New Guinea by the Director-General for Asian and Pacific Affairs and the high-level discussions with Pacific Island countries served as an important opportunity to advance diplomatic diversification by enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening relations with Pacific Island countries, whose strategic importance is increasingly recognized. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue its efforts to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Pacific Island countries.