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Duterte, Papua New Guinea PM hold bilateral meet in Malacañang


President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday welcomed Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to Malacañang as both countries seek to deepen diplomatic ties that date back to 1975.

After a brief welcome ceremony held in the Malacañang grounds, both leaders proceeded to the presidential palace for a bilateral meeting. 

Duterte will also be hosting a state banquet in honor of the visiting premier on Wednesday evening.

"This is an important opportunity to reaffirm and further strengthen the friendly and cooperative ties with Papua New Guinea," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said on Tuesday.

 

 

"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 will cap off his three-day visit to the country by touring the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on Thursday. He will then fly to Japan.

Papua New Guinea, which hosts thousands of Filipino migrant workers, is this year's chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Duterte and O'Neill last met on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Vietnam in November last year.

O’Neill also visited Manila during the APEC Summit in November 2015. — MDM, GMA News

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