PORT MORESBY - US President Joe Biden telephoned his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on Thursday, after cancelling a historic meeting in the Pacific island nation, to tell him Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in his place, the two leaders said.
Pacific island leaders will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a high-level United States delegation in Papua New Guinea on Monday.
Mr Biden pulled out of the visit to Papua New Guinea because of debt ceiling negotiations in Washington, a move seen by some as a blow to US diplomacy in the region.
The US President had been expected to meet 18 leaders from the region's main bloc, the Pacific Islands Forum, and sign a defence cooperation pact with Papua New Guinea on Monday.
Mr Marape told a press conference on Thursday that Mr Biden had called him and invited him to a US-Pacific island summit in Washington in September.
"I was privileged on behalf of the people that (Biden) placed a call directly to my cellphone... He conveyed his sincerest apologies that he cannot make it to our country," Mr Marape said, adding that Mr Biden said Mr Blinken would travel in his place.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin May 19, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin May 19, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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