Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – November 20, 2023 – Prime Minister Hon. James Marape commends the pivotal achievements of the APEC 2023 Summit held in San Francisco, USA. The foremost accomplishments include the landmark meeting between US President H.E. Joe Biden and Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping and the United States’ commitment to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Reflecting on these milestones, Prime Minister Marape, speaking on Monday, November 20, 2023, following his return from San Francisco via Honiara, Solomon Islands, emphasised the global significance of the APEC summit. The Prime Minister asserted that these accomplishments will have far-reaching impacts on Papua New Guinea and the world at large.
Expressing his warm welcome to the historic summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodside, California, last Thursday, Prime Minister Marape hailed the candid and constructive discussions that took place during the summit. He commended Presidents Biden and Xi for their commitment to fostering robust and amicable relationships among leading economies.
“As the smallest economy in APEC, Papua New Guinea consistently advocates for strong relationships among major economies like the USA and China,” said Prime Minister Marape.
“Their collaboration is pivotal for the well-being of the global economy, and witnessing Presidents Biden and Xi working together for the betterment of global commerce and trade is truly heartening.”
Having met both Presidents Biden and Xi in separate engagements earlier this year and now at APEC, Prime Minister Marape extended a warm welcome on behalf of Pacific countries to their recent meeting.
Prime Minister Marape also welcomed the United States government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Applauding the ambitious goal, he acknowledged the USA’s dedication to transitioning swiftly to cleaner energy solutions and moving away from hydrocarbons. Given Papua New Guinea’s vulnerability to climate change, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for President Biden’s announcement and the USA’s commitment to taking responsibility for its carbon emissions.
“I commend the USA for making the move towards cleaner and greener energy at the very earliest, and also for taking responsibility for its carbon emissions,” said Prime Minister Marape.
“I also welcome the goal of developed countries providing and mobilising US$100 billion annually to developing countries, like Papua New Guinea, to help them cut emissions and adapt to climate change.”