New Zealand (NZ) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon start his day in his official three- day visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) paying a courtesy visit to the Governor General of PNG Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae.
The Governor General received Prime Minister Luxon at the Government House in Port Moresby city at 9AM where he acknowledged the close and historical relations both PNG and New Zealand share and in particular, New Zealand’s direct funding assistance and volunteer service in rural communities in PNG.
Prime Minister Luxon said, “New Zealand is proud of its close relations with PNG that reaches back to the arrival of the Maori missionaries in the 1800s, participation of New Zealand soldiers in WWII in parts of PNG and New Zealand’s participation as one of eight countries invited to celebrate PNG’s Independence Day in 1975.”
Luxon added that New Zealand is also pleased to provide development and trade assistance as well as defence and security support to PNG which it has been doing for many years.
The meeting concluded with exchange of gifts between the Governor General and the New Zealand Prime Minister before departing for his next engagement at the National Parliament to address the House.