Papua New Guinea Chalks Out Reasons For Asean Membership

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has expressed interest in joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to enhance trade relations with its existing partners. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko said his country has been associated with Asean as an observer since 1999 and as a member, can contribute to addressing several topical issues, such as combating IUU fishing of tuna and other seafood. Tkatchenko expressed this intention in his speech at the 31st Asean Regional Forum held in Laos last week.

Asean comprises ten nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. A membership to Asean would increase PNG’s unity among other member countries and increase representation and influence on the world stage. Tkatchenko said “PNG is geographically and strategically located between Asia and the Pacific. The peace and stability of these two regions are important to PNG, a large island with almost 463,000 sq. km of land area and a large EEZ with tuna-rich stocks,” reported PNG news sites. The benefits of an Asean membership on tuna trade, a major revenue stream for PNG, is not foreseeable.