Prime Minister James Marape has emphasized the strong and lasting bond between Papua New Guinea and Australia following a series of productive meetings in Sydney on Friday. Prime Minister Marape made a courtesy visit to the Australian Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms. Sam Mostyn AC, where they discussed the long-standing historical connections and the shared future of their nations. “I affirmed that our relationship with Australia is a valued and foundational one, dating back to Papua Newpaula Guinea’s sovereignty in 1975." "Since then, Australia has stood with us every step of the way, contributing significantly to our progress over the past 49 years as we approach our 50th anniversary of independence,” Prime Minister Marape stated. Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that Australia’s ties with Papua New Guinea extend far beyond 1975, with strong historical, economic, and security cooperation dating back to the colonial era. He emphasised that Australia has been a key partner in PNG’s development long before independence and remains committed to its progress today. During the meeting, the Prime Minister also highlighted ongoing bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to strengthen PNG-Australia relations across key areas, including trade, investment, governance, and security. A key highlight of the discussion was Prime Minister Marape’s invitation to the Governor-General to attend a special 50th-anniversary event in Papua New Guinea dedicated to honouring women and girls. This landmark event, scheduled within PNG’s 50th-anniversary celebrations (September 16, 2025 – September 15, 2026), will call upon all men and boys in the country to formally recognise and celebrate the contributions of women in Papua New Guinea. “The Governor-General is a strong advocate for women’s rights, with a distinguished background as a businesswoman and community leader, and she has graciously accepted our invitation." "She commended PNG on its progress and reiterated Australia’s continued commitment to supporting our development and aspirations,” Prime Minister Marape added. The discussions also reinforced Australia’s long-standing support for PNG’s development, spanning infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic growth. Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the critical role Australia has played—not just during his tenure as Prime Minister, but over the past five decades—in shaping PNG’s growth and transformation. Furthermore, Prime Minister Marape highlighted PNG’s commitment to fostering a favourable environment for Australian investors, ensuring that trade and commerce between the two nations continue to expand and flourish. “Australia remains PNG’s largest trading partner, and our people-to-people ties continue to grow." "Our government-to-government relationships, institutional partnerships, and economic cooperation have never been stronger." A notable milestone in this deepening partnership is the NRL’s official acceptance of Papua New Guinea as the 18th team in the National Rugby League from 2028. Prime Minister Marape described this as a powerful symbol of the strength of PNG-Australia relations at every level—from government and business to sports and culture. “This is yet another step forward in our long-standing relationship, a sign of our growing integration and mutual progress,” he concluded. Prime Minister Marape will continue his engagements in Australia before travelling to the Solomon Islands for bilateral discussions and a major fisheries conference.