Prime Minister (PM) James Marape and the President of the Republic of Indonesia H.E Joko Widodo have come together for a bilateral meeting to discuss matters of trade, investments, political aspirations, and people to people relations. PM Marape in his opening speech at the bilateral meeting welcomed the president, saying that Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia share a very close relationship since PNG's independence. Highlighting this relationship, Marape said this close tie was further strengthened by the closeness of the two countries in terms of land and sea border. "Papua New Guinea and Indonesia have been great partners since 1975 since we became independent. Not just partnership, our brotherhood, our sisterhood, our kinship over mountains, valleys and seas we live in," said Marape. The PM further said that he is looking forward to a great dialogue between him and the president, but more importantly, the dialogues between the teams of the two countries. An official joint press statement will be made by both leaders at the end of the bilateral meeting. Meanwhile, President Widodo arrived at approximately 10:45AM this morning at the APEC Terminal in Port Moresby where he was officially received by the PM and the military guard of honour. He then proceeded to the Government House to meet the Governor General before heading to the APEC Haus for the bilateral meeting.