Fiji, Oct. 21 -- Australia and Papua New Guinea have reaffirmed their partnership as equal allies, with Ministers from both countries meeting in Canberra Monday for the 31st Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum, the first since the signing of the landmark Pukpuk Treaty earlier this month.

Co-chaired by Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and PNG's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, the Forum marked a defining moment in the two nations' 50-year relationship - now elevated to a full Mutual Defence Alliance based on trust, sovereignty, and shared regional stability.

"Ministers underscored that this historic milestone was founded on respect for the sovereignty and mutual benefit of both nations, based on generations of trust an...