Vanuatu PM to visit as major bilateral deal awaits
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing to welcome his Vanuatu counterpart to Canberra.
Jotham Napat’s first official business visit to Australia next week will come as the two countries prepare to sign a $500 million partnership.
The agreement is expected to provide Australian funding for critical infrastructure, climate adaptation, budget support and economic growth for 10 years.
Mr Napat withdrew from the so-called Nakamal Agreement in September after some in his government raised concerns that it would undermine Vanuatu’s sovereignty.
However, negotiations continue.
China has also signed an agreement with Port Vila called the Namele Agreement, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong has previously stated that Australia is “in a permanent state of competition in the Pacific”.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale recently raised with Mr Albanese the possibility of a Pacific-wide security agreement to counter Chinese influence.
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy told AAP Australia would certainly be open to pursuing such an idea.
“We have a number of bilateral security agreements… but ultimately we show up, we listen and we act on the priorities of the Pacific,” he said.
Mr Albanese is expected to travel to Honiara in July to meet Mr Wale to advance negotiations and visit Fiji, where a new diplomatic agreement is on the table.
It will be Mr Albanese’s second audience with Mr Napat in Canberra.
He said the Pacific Islands leader’s visit would reaffirm the commitment to and elevation of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vanuatu.
“We share a deep and enduring partnership based on mutual respect and shared values,” Mr. Albanese said in a statement on Saturday.
“Strengthening our ties… is central to our shared ambition for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific region.”
Mr. Albanese will host Mr. Napat and his delegation at the parliament building.
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