TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met his Papua New Guinean counterpart, Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Jokowi is the latest leader to visit the island nation as major powers compete for influence in the strategically-located region.

Papua New Guinea, a nation of 9 million with rich national resources but largely underdeveloped, shares a 760 km border with Indonesia. Both countries’ diplomatic relations are complicated by the separatist ambitions of Melanesian groups on the Indonesian side of Papua, which was absorbed by Indonesia post-1969 vote.

A basic border agreement with Indonesia has been ratified in March after being stalled for 10 years by Papua New Guinea’s parliament. Prime Minister Marape said that he is seeking to boost business ties and air travel between the two countries.

Jokowi’s one-day visit, where a border and trade agreement is expected to be the main focus of discussion, came after India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met a dozen Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby in May.

Papua New Guinea, which counts China as its main trade partner, signed a defense cooperation agreement with the U.S. during Blinken’s visit. The agreement allows the U.S. military to access Papua New Guinea’s ports and airports.

REUTERS / NAJLA

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