New Delhi: Ahead of holding of the Third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation-FIPIC- Summit in May in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), which India is co-hosting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic talk with his Papua New Guinea counterpart Justin Tkachenko.
In a tweet, EAM said the two discussed broadening the agenda of their bilateral ties during the talk on Tuesday evening.
“Glad to speak with FM Justin Tkachenko of Papua New Guinea this evening.
“Discussed broadening the agenda of our ties.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Papua New Guinea to attend the summit during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and leaders from the Pacific Island Countries.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko has said the FIPIC Summit is very important as it brings countries to work together with close traditional neighbours to enhance the relationships through diplomacy and official programs and activities.
“This is a historical event; we have never had the Prime Minister of one of the biggest leading economies and population to come to Papua New Guinea before. It shows the commitment India now wants to play in the region and also with Papua New Guinea going forward,” Minister Tkatchenko is quoted as saying.
“India does trade with Papua New Guinea in many different sectors and also India does very well in its SME programs and activities with its people, in agriculture and information and technology and is leading the way as well,” he said.
The 14 FIPIC member countries to attend the summit include Papua New Guinea as the host, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, who is now the current Chair of the Forum, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu.
In 2014, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji, India launched Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) which includes India and 14 Pacific Island Countries.
The first summit of this group was held in Suva, Fiji in 2014 while the second summit was held in Jaipur, India in 2015.
