UN Chief Praises Papua New Guinea’s Democracy, Resilience

Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea addresses reporters at joint press encounter with Secretary-General António Guterres (right) in Port Moresby.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres concluded his historic visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday, the first ever by a sitting UN chief, praising the nation’s 50-year record as a multilingual democracy despite mounting economic and environmental challenges.

Standing alongside Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby, Guterres commended Papua New Guineans as “champions of multilateralism and international solutions,” highlighting their preference for dialogue and peace in a world where democratic values are under threat.

The climate crisis was central to the visit. After meeting civil society representatives in a rainforest region, Guterres noted that Papua New Guinea contributes little to global emissions, thanks to its vast forests and ocean resources, yet suffers heavily from climate impacts. He urged the global community to ensure climate justice and provide greater support to build resilience.

Guterres also stressed the need for economic fairness, criticising PNG’s designation as a middle-income country, which excludes it from concessional funding such as low-interest loans, grants, and debt relief. Calling this “an injustice that must be corrected,” he reiterated the need for reform of international financial institutions to give developing nations like PNG stronger influence and better access to resources for sustainable development.