Australia is sending its largest ministerial delegation in more than a decade to Papua New Guinea as part of an annual bilateral forum.
Marise Payne and James Marape. Photo: PNG Govt
The Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne is leading the group of six cabinet ministers to take part in the 27th PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum today.
Ms Payne will co-chair the forum alongside her PNG counterpart Soroi Eoe.
The forum follows a July visit by PNG Prime Minister James Marape to Australia and comes hot on the heels of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tuvalu where Australia's interaction with regional leaders was controversial.
After the meeting Australia was called condescending by a number of Pacific leaders and its attitude was described as "neo-colonial"
However, Ms Payne said Australia's relationships with its Pacific neighbours remained deep and strong.