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McMullan
An agreement to up-skill Papua New Guineans to work on the proposed liquified natural gas project is just one of the outcomes from a visit to PNG by Bob McMullan, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International Development.
Mr McMullan said his visit to PNG would result in both countries getting to work on how to deliver the Pacific Partnership for Development.
"We have taken another positive step forward in the relationship between our two governments," said Mr McMullan
"Minister Tiensten and I signed a joint communiqué which agrees on a way forward in key areas for cooperation and action.
"Work will start immediately on a plan towards getting more of PNG's children into school. PNG and Australia will also explore how we can work with Port Moresby Technical College and the project joint venture partners to help develop the skills people will need to work on the LNG project.
"There are many other areas of cooperation which we will work towards together, for example, on improving and maintaining PNG's roads, airports and ports."
Mr McMullan thanked Minister Tiensten for the opportunity to visit Kokopo and Pomio District in East New Britain.
"It is really important to visit areas outside the major centres like Port Moresby so that I get a feel for how people live and talk to them about their needs and expectations.
"It also reinforces the value of working towards the Millennium Development Goals focusing on key development outcomes such as improving health services and educational opportunities.
"Minister Tiensten and I are looking forward to being able to report some concrete outcomes at the next Ministerial Forum which will be held in the first half of next year."