Papua New Guinean PM James Marape calls for focus on economic development as China shut out on security talks

In a speech to the foreign policy think tank the Lowy Institute on Tuesday largely focused on his country’s economy, the Prime Minister Marape outlined that aside from climate change, poverty was greatest issue facing his country, necessitating further foreign investment.

“The gap in poverty must be filled – the West cannot be ignorant to this, economies need to survive” Mr Marape said, adding that investment was “more powerful than just security”.

Despite having plentiful natural resources, Papua New Guinea is largely undeveloped and almost 40 per cent of its population currently lives in poverty.

Pivoting to security, Papua New Guinea’s interests differed from other Pacific Island countries due to its place in the world, Mr Marape said, and that it sought to “share responsibility with Australia, to assist in keeping our Pacific safe”.

“PNG stands as a buffer to greater Asia and linking to the Pacific,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Marape told a resources conference in Sydney that there had been no talks with China to establish a bilateral security agreement.

“We keep [China] in the space of the economy, we went with traditional security partners for security,” he said.

Last week, Papua New Guinea inked a new security agreement with Australia worth $200 million. The deal is designed to bolster the Pacific nation’s internal security via increased assistance in defence, policing and the nation’s courts.

In recent years, Papua New Guinea, has been a target of diplomatic efforts as growing regional tensions push the United States and its allies, including Australia, to bolster their influence in the Indo-Pacific.

However, Papua New Guinea is also bolstering its trading relationship with China, with a feasibility study currently underway to assess the possibility of a free-trade agreement between the two countries.

Mr Marape added that his government had been clear on their dealings with foreign governments, and when he travelled to Beijing this year “there was no conversation on security”.

Speaking at a press conference with Mr Albanese in Canberra last week, Mr Marape told reporters that the deal signified Australia and Papua New Guinea were “brother and sisters” before adding that his country would not pick sides, but rather be “friends to all”.