CANBERRA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have agreed to formally elevate their relationship.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his counterpart from PNG, James Marape, met in Canberra on Monday morning to finalize a comprehensive and strategic partnership.
Marape is the first world leader to visit Australia in an official capacity since Morrison won re-election in May.
Under the new partnership, the Australian government will invest 250 million Australian dollars (176 million U.S. dollars) in the ongoing electrification of PNG, and 54 million Australian dollars (38 million U.S. dollars) in rural health services and 10 million Australian dollars (7.04 million U.S. dollars) for immunization.
Marape welcomed the investment announcements but said in an ideal world his country would not be so reliant on foreign aid.
