Login
iscover
An international alliance of nearly 1,500 Pacific Partnership personnel have arrived in Papua New Guinea to begin a multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The team, which arrived in Port Moresby on 9 October, will conduct tailored humanitarian and civic preparedness activities involving engineering, disaster response, public health, and Papua New Guinea outreach events.
Activities are conducted across Port Moresby and Wewak as a joint effort on behalf of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, at the invitation of Papua New Guinea.
“Pacific Partnership empowers nations to enhance their infrastructure and ability to respond to disaster emergencies,” according to US Navy mission commander Captain Claudine Caluori.
“I am proud to announce our return to Papua New Guinea following last year’s success, and to exchange valuable knowledge, skills, and relationships that will endure long after the mission departs.”
The Pacific Partnership previously visited Kimbe in PNG last year to enhance disaster response capabilities.
This year, personnel are scheduled to supply tailored medical care, community education, conduct repairs at a local schoolhouse, and conduct knowledge exchanges with exercises covering disaster response and humanitarian assistance. The US Pacific Fleet Band, accompanied by a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force singer, will perform at community engagements.
“The Papua New Guinea Defence Force is looking forward to collaborating with the US Navy and our allies to conduct another successful round of Pacific Partnership,” said Colonel Craig Solomon, Papua New Guinea Defence Force Chief of Force Preparation.
“Our countries are bonded by a common interest in promoting a stable and secure Indo-Pacific by working to enhance readiness for potential hazards and responses.”
PNG also recently welcomed the People’s Republic of China’s Qi Jiguang naval training ship during a three-day goodwill visit. The vessel carries more than 300 midshipmen from the PLA Naval University of Engineering, PLA Naval Submarine Academy, and PLA Naval Aviation University on board. They were also joined by two Papua New Guinean Defence Force naval midshipmen participating in training and living on board for the last month.
During the visit, both sides participated in exchanges, open day activities and football matches, while the Chinese embassy in PNG held a reception celebrating the Chinese National Day aboard the ship.
Both sides are reportedly in discussions for the reconstruction of a military hospital at PNGDF’s Taurama Barracks sponsored by the PRC while PNG officials are reportedly scheduled to travel to China to sign a multi-million agreement for the hospital next month.
