The Prime Minister Hon Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau Ma’aukoro visited Australia on an invitation from the Prime Minister of Australia on Tuesday the 14^th of February 2023.  

PM Maau’koro and his delegation departed Port Vila on the 14^th of February to meet Australian Prime Minister Hon Anthony Albanese on Wednesday 15^th of February 2023.

The invitation from Australian Prime Minister follows on from the foreign Minister’s visit to Vanuatu Hon Penny Wong early this year.  Vanuatu Prime Minister to visit Prime Minister Albanese’s guest.

Therefore, it is an honour for me as Prime Minister to be invited as government guest and I cherish the relationship we have developed. Australia is a key development partner for Vanuatu and we look forward to grow and deepen the corporation between us.

In light of this invitation, I know that the relationship between the countries only continue to grow from strength to strength. It is our culture in the Pacific to gather around the table and discuss development issues acknowledge all the good work we have achieved and the once we are still working on. It’s embedded in the Pacific culture of respect to gather around a table and discus issues rather than sending correspondence after correspondence. That is the spirit of our relationship with Australia.

At the out set I want to thank all officials from the Australian government in Canberra, DFAT, Australian High Commission in Port Vila and officials from the Vanuatu government who worked so hard to turn this into reality.