bilateral division

BILATERAL DIVISION

BILATERAL DIVISION AND BRANCHES

The Bilateral Division is a policy division that is responsible for dealing with all of PNG’s bilateral relations and matters with bilateral and development partner countries; regional organizations; and other international entities or jurisdictions in the key areas of politics and diplomacy; social and cultural relations; development cooperation and aid assistance; security and defence cooperation, and trade and economic cooperation.

The Division consists of four (4) branches:

Pacific, Australia and New Zealand (PANZ) Branch

This branch is responsible for all aspects of the PNG-Australia bilateral relations; and PNG-New Zealand bilateral relations and the relations with other South Pacific Island Countries, in particular members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

It is also responsible for all other Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies including Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC); Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); certain aspects, especially political aspects, of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA); and also for the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) and Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in the region. This is one of the biggest and most focused branches in the Department given the magnitude and importance of PNG’s relations with Australia and New Zealand.

Asia and ASEAN Branch

The branch is responsible for PNG’s bilateral relations with all the countries in the Asian region that have diplomatic relations with PNG. This includes the major economies in North Asia such as People’s Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea. In South Asia this includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. In East Asia it covers Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Republic of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste. It also is responsible for relations with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its ten (10) member states, all of whom are included in the above countries; and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), especially on regional security matters.

Americas, Europe, Middle-East and Africa (AEMEA) Branch

The branch deals with PNG’s bilateral relations with the countries in the AEMEA region, especially in the main areas of politics and diplomatic engagement, trade and economic cooperation, defense and security matters, and development assistance and cooperation. This includes the countries in the North and South America, including the United States; Europe; Middle East; and the African Continent.

It also deals with specific aspects, in particular political matters, of the key organizations of strategic interest to PNG and in which PNG is a member in these regions. This includes the European Union in Europe and its relations to the Organization of African, Caribbean, and the Pacific States (OACPS) formerly ACP States; and the Commonwealth in Europe and its relations with the Commonwealth countries.

Legal and Treaties Branch

The branch is responsible for all legal and treaty matters and ensures the Department complies with all internal constitutional and legal requirements and processes and international treaty making requirements and processes in negotiations on international agreements or arrangements/understandings and in PNG’s participation in international agreements or treaties and its membership of international organizations. This includes ratification of various agreements and treaties; performing the role of depositary for designated treaties or agreements where required; and the preparation of relevant treaty and participation or representation instruments or credentials

Postal Address:

P.O Box 422, Waigani,
National Capital District (NCD)
Papua New Guinea (PNG)

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