Tonga's Prime Minister, Akilisi Pohiva has announced that Papua New Guinea (PNG) will assist with the reconstruction of Teufaiva Stadium for track and field events.
PNG will also assist Tonga with its High Performance Center where elite sportsmanship will be prepared to represent Tonga in the Pacific Games and other international sporting events.
Prime Minister Pohiva was in Port Moresby earlier this week for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. He was accompanied by the Minister and CEO for Internal Affairs also responsible for Sports.
The main purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit to PNG was to further strengthen the economic and social cooperation between the two countries in the sports arena.
After the successful visit, PM Pohiva assured the nation that his government remains committed to hosting the 2019 Pacific Games.
"The Tongan Government looks forward to working closely with PNG’s sports technical team, which is an opportunity to foster regional cooperation and strengthen mutual bond forged through sports events. PNG has experienced the unity of its nation through hosting the Pacific Games 2015, and Tonga desires to experience the same for its people, said a government statement release through the Office of the Prime Minister.
The PNG Government has accepted an invitation by Prime Minister Pohiva for a delegation from Papua New Guinea led by the Minister for Sports and Tourism, Justin Tkatchenko, to visit Tonga at the earliest opportunity to share their experiences of planning and preparing of a Pacific Games, and to continue dialogue and mutual cooperation.