Papua New Guinea (PNG) and New Zealand are currently in talks to elevate their diplomatic partnership of 50 years in the face of PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary. PNG PM James Marape who is in New Zealand met with NZ PM Christopher Luxon yesterday at the NZ Parliament House to discuss various matters of common concern. The leaders also signed a new Statement of Partnership that indicates their intention to work more closely from this year 2025 to 2029. PM Marape said he will focus on detailing the partnership blueprint over the next couple of years as the two nations revitalize their friendship of 50 years going into the future. He acknowledged the general lack of emphasis PNG has placed on growing its relations with New Zealand over the 50 years, and said he was keen on bringing this partnership to the level similar to PNG’s relations with its main bilateral partners. “This is unfair on New Zealand as they have been with us for 50 years,” PM Marape said. He highlighted the importance in the role New Zealand has played over Papua New Guinea’s life, especially in the central role New Zealand plays as a senior member of Pacific Islands Forum, and in the Bougainville peace process since 2001. In his talks with Prime Minister Luxon, PM Marape put forward the following: • Agriculture • Livestock • State-Owned Enterprises • Labour Mobility • Security • Economic Sector • Climate Change • Gender Equality and Participation • Health PM Marape thanked his NZ counterpart for this program and said his government would be willing to partner in this initiative. “New Zealand is an important nation to us. We want to elevate our relationship to a higher level. Under the new PNG-NZ Statement of Partnership 2025 – 2029, we want to make sure our bilateral relation gets better and stronger. New Zealand is a mature economy of over $260 billion. It is a frontier nation in successfully transitioning State-owned enterprises into the Private Sector. New Zealand is also highly successful in rural agriculture-base commerce and business driving its economy. It is a big exporter of agriculture produce, livestock and primary resources in the food industry. There are a lot of lessons we can learn from New Zealand,” he said. PM Marape stated that it is a privilege and honour for him to be the Guest of the New Zealand Government and in meeting NZ PM Christopher Luxon at his Parliament office. “This meeting consolidates our two nations’ relationship in the face of our country’s 50th anniversary, and we are looking forward to a greater rapport. The Statement of Partnership is a living document; we intend to elevate this into a comprehensive partnership that both sides will work on into the future,” concluded PM Marape.