Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP, today met with H.E. Anthony Muller, Minister for Natural Resources and Commerce of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Presidential Special Envoy for H.E. Dr. Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, on the margins of the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby.
The bilateral meeting reinforced the shared ocean identity and priorities of Melanesia and Micronesia and set a new course for practical cooperation on ocean governance, fisheries, and climate resilience across the Blue Pacific.
Strengthening Pacific Solidarity
Prime Minister Marape welcomed Minister Muller to Papua New Guinea and conveyed appreciation to President Dr. Hilda Heine for her leadership in nominating a senior envoy to the Summit. He acknowledged the valued friendship between Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Marshall Islands since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 29 September 1989.
He also welcomed the recent accreditation of H.E. Junior Aini is the first non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to Papua New Guinea, resident in Suva, Fiji, describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral engagement.
Both leaders reaffirmed their countries’ shared interests and common aspirations through regional bodies including the Pacific Islands Forum, Parties to the Nauru Agreement, Forum Fisheries Agency, and Secretariat of the Pacific Community, as well as at the United Nations and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
An Ocean-First Agenda
Prime Minister Marape underscored that the Inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit reflects Papua New Guinea’s commitment to placing the ocean at the center of regional cooperation.
“Our ocean is not separate from us. It is our highway, our larder, our identity, and our frontline in the climate crisis,” Prime Minister Marape said. “This Summit is about Melanesian leadership working hand-in-hand with Micronesia and Polynesia to govern, protect, and benefit from our shared Blue Pacific Continent.”
He acknowledged the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ long-standing leadership and advocacy on climate change and ocean protection at both regional and international levels, and called for stronger collaboration among Pacific Island countries to ensure the sustainable management of shared ocean resources and to safeguard the interests of Pacific peoples.
New Diplomatic and Fisheries Partnerships
In a major step for Pacific diplomacy, Prime Minister Marape announced Papua New Guinea’s intention to establish a Resident Diplomatic Mission in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The mission will expand PNG’s diplomatic footprint across the Pacific and provide coverage for the wider Micronesian sub-region.
On fisheries, the Prime Minister recognized this as a cornerstone of cooperation between the two nations as fellow members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement. He reaffirmed PNG’s vision to become a fisheries processing hub for the Pacific through the East New Britain Initiative, focused on value-adding and downstream processing.
He welcomed the signing of the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation between PNG, RMI, and the Federated States of Micronesia in May 2025 at the Forum Fisheries Agency Headquarters in Honiara. The MOU opens pathways for cooperation in electronic monitoring, dockside offloading coordination, in-region fish processing, tuna value-chain participation, and enhancing economic returns and employment opportunities for Pacific peoples.
Prime Minister Marape also stressed the importance of collective regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Pacific waters.
Expanding Technical and People-to-People Links
The leaders discussed a proposed Framework Agreement on Development and Technical Cooperation to provide an overarching mechanism for future collaboration in education and student exchanges, maritime training and fisheries management, health cooperation, renewable energy and energy security, tourism development, and public sector capacity building.
Prime Minister Marape highlighted PNG’s growing cooperation with Pacific Island countries in education through scholarships and technical training, and expressed willingness to explore partnerships with the Marshall Islands in maritime studies, fisheries, health, and technical vocational education.
Commitment to the Blue Pacific Future
Prime Minister Marape reaffirmed PNG’s support for the full implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its Implementation Plan. He acknowledged the Pacific Resilience Facility as a Pacific-owned financing mechanism essential to supporting climate resilience initiatives across the region.
He concluded by calling for continued Pacific unity on key international issues affecting the region’s ocean and climate future.
In closing, Prime Minister Marape thanked Minister Muller for the meeting and asked that warm greetings and best wishes be conveyed to President Dr. Hilda Heine and the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He expressed his wishes for the continued peace, progress, and prosperity of the Marshall Islands.