Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 12 May 2026 – The Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea have signed a Framework for Development Cooperation, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two Pacific nations and setting the stage for a new era of structured and practical partnership.
The Framework was signed by Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown of the Cook Islands and Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
The agreement provides the formal framework through which the relevant agencies and institutions of both governments can enter into specific subsidiary arrangements across a broad range of priority areas, including:
- Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation
- Education, Skills and Labour Mobility
- Health, Sports and Social Development
- Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection
- Infrastructure, Energy and Green Technology
- Connectivity, Security and Digital Transformation
- Cultural, Arts and People-to-People Exchanges
- Tourism
- Public Sector Governance and Institutional Strengthening
- Sister City Arrangements
- Any other areas of cooperation as mutually agreed in writing
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown said the Framework represented more than a diplomatic agreement.
“This is a commitment to action. It creates the enabling environment for our agencies to collaborate, innovate, and deliver results that matter to our people. I look forward to seeing it brought to life through concrete partnerships in the months and years ahead.”
The Framework is designed to be flexible and responsive, allowing both governments to activate cooperation in areas aligned with their respective national development priorities. It complements broader regional commitments, including the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Both governments have committed to the early development of subsidiary arrangements under the Framework and to establishing regular dialogue mechanisms to monitor progress and ensure accountability.
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