Papua New Guinea PM on three-day visit in PHL

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will embark on a three-day visit to the Philippines beginning on Tuesday to further strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and the South Pacific nation.

"This is an important opportunity to reaffirm and further strengthen the friendly and cooperative ties with Papua New Guinea," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing.

"With other similar histories and shared aspirations for greater peace, progress and prosperity for our peoples and region, the Philippine stand ready to work with Papua New Guinea for the mutual benefit and sustainable and inclusive growth of our nations."

O'Neill was due to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon. He will meet President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday for a bilateral meeting in Malacañang.

The premier is also slated to visit the Philippine Rice Research Institute in Nueva Ecija on Thursday.

Duterte and O'Neill last met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Vietnam in November last year.

During their bilateral meeting in Vietnam, Duterte asked O'Neill to help the Philippine tuna industry by allowing Filipino fishing companies to continue bringing part of their catch to processing plants in General Santos City. —NB, GMA News