Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has congratulated Julia Gillard and sent a message of thanks to her predecessor Kevin Rudd.
The elder statesman of the Pacific region also sent the new prime minister an invitation to visit PNG.
He says the PNG government has enjoyed strong and personal relations with past and present Labor governments, and he's confident that can continue.
Michael Somare's office said the PNG prime minister sent a personal letter to Mr Rudd thanking him for his work rebuilding relations between the two countries.