UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres makes historic visit to Papua New Guinea for 50th anniversary

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completed his four-day visit to Papua New Guinea. This was the first time that a sitting UN Secretary-General had visited the country.

Papua New Guinea will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence on September 16, 2025. Guterres’ visit coincided with this milestone, and he addressed it in his speeches.

The Secretary General met with Prime Minister James Marape and addressed the country’s parliament. He also travelled to remote areas to meet with local communities and civil society representatives to discuss issues like health, education, and peacebuilding.

In his address to the National Parliament, Guterres said:

“In a world where we see democratic values being put into question by countries with much less problems than Papua New Guinea, I must say that we should all be grateful for this remarkable example.”

A major focus of the visit was climate change. The UNSG praised PNG’s leadership in climate action, despite being a country that contributes very little to global emissions.

Guterres commended PNG for its 50 years of uninterrupted democracy. He praised the country for its ability to unite a diverse population with over 800 languages through dialogue and peaceful means. He noted this as a “remarkable example” for a world where democratic values are being questioned.

The UN Chief called for reform to the global financial system. He pointed out that because PNG is considered a “middle-income country,” it has limited access to concessional funding (low-interest free loans and grants), even though it faces major development challenges.

What is Papua New Guinea famous for?

Papua New Guinea is rich in resources, including gold, copper and gas.