THE FIJI foreign affairs minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has met briefly with new Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill.

Ratu Inoke is in Port Moresby for the Pacific (African Caribbean Pacific) trade ministers meeting.

The meeting will determine the way forward for negotiations on a regional economic partnership agreement with the European Union.

Ratu Inoke said he discussed “bilateral matters” with Mr O'Neill.

As partners in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, former prime minister Michael Somare and Fiji’s military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama developed a very close relationship.

Both leaders used the MSG forum to criticise Australian and New Zealand policies in the region.

It remains to be seen whether Mr O’Neill will cooperate with Commodore Bainimarama in pursuing the same approach.

Source: Fiji Times