User:Aridd/Through the hidden door/Main/Safe/France – Papua New Guinea relations

Relations between the French Republic and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea are limited but cordial. Official diplomatic relations were established in 1976.

History of relations
In 1768 French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville landed at what is now Papua New Guinea during his circumnavigation of the world. He gave his name to an island just to the east of New Guinea.

In 1980, the new state of Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides, which had just that year declared independence from France, quelled an uprising with the help of forces from Papua New Guinea. Throughout the 1980s, Papua New Guinea remained highly critical of France due to France's commitment to testing nuclear explosions in the South Pacific. Papua New Guinea co-sponsored with Australia and New Zealand a scientific study of the Moruroa atoll in 1983, but distanced itself from the report when the results concluded that health and environmental risks from nuclear testing were negligible.

Present day
Economic relations are minimal. In 2003, French exports to Papua New Guinea were worth €2 million, accounting for just 0.3% of the country's imports.

French development aid to Papua New Guinea includes aid focused on agronomy and natural disaster prevention. The Alliance Française is present in Port Moresby, and provides French language lessons.

In November 2007, Papua New Guinea's Oro Province was struck by cyclone Guba, and France provided humanitarian aid in the form of medicine, water purification products, food and clothing for victims with the assistance of the Armed Forces of New Caledonia (FANC) and in the context of the FRANZ agreement.

Papua New Guinea is a member of the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization. The French government has noted what it calls Port Moresby's "moderate" attitude on the issue of the decolonisation of New Caledonia - which, like Papua New Guinea, is located in Melanesia.

Papua New Guinea took part in the second France-Oceania Summit held in Paris in June 2006. Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare opened the session on the political stability of the region. Sir Michael also visited Nouméa in April 2005, and "expressed interest in increased cooperation with the French overseas community of New Caledonia". The French government describes this cooperation as "progressing slowly", while noting that "the framework agreement for fisheries cooperation between PNG and New Caledonia which came into effect on 15 October 2002 has not led to more substantial cooperation at this point".

The French National Assembly maintains a Friendship Group with Papua New Guinea.

Military cooperation
The Armed Forces of New Caledonia (FANC) cooperate with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force through joint exercises. Brigadier General Gilles Robert, Superior Commander of the Armed Forces of New Caledonia, conducted a mission in PNG from 3 to 6 October 2006.

A plan for bilateral cooperation between the FANC and PNG’s defense forces was approved in November 2004, centered around training for peacekeeping operations.