Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. The two leaders held a virtual summit on March 4, 2021, to mark the completion of two years since India and Papua New Guinea established their diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for Papua’s active participation in India’s efforts to strengthen its engagement with the Melanesian region and welcomed the formal launch of the India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Framework.
The two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in areas like healthcare, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, digital technology, geothermal and mining. They further explored avenues for deeper security and defence cooperation and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Marape also expressed support for a rules based international order, early adoption of a mutually agreed outcome of the negotiations on Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and upholding Freedom of Navigation and Overflight in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.