Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Papua New Guinea counterpart Michael Somare signed a pact in PNG capital Port Moresby on Thursday to protect forests and reduce carbon emissions.
Rudd flew in to the PNG capital in the morning for his first visit to the nation as prime minister.
Following the talks, Rudd and Somare said the PNG-Australia forest carbon partnership would address greenhouse emissions and deforestation, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Under the pact, a carbon trading scheme will be developed that can be linked to international markets.
Rudd announced the partnership as part of a Port Moresby "declaration", which aims to strengthen relations between the two nations.
"I believe the time has come for us to turn over a new page and write a new chapter in Australia-PNG relations," Rudd told reporters.
Rudd will Friday lay a wreath at Bomana War Cemetery before flying to Goroka, in the Eastern Highlands Province, to inspect AusAID-funded projects.
On Saturday, he will fly to the Solomon Islands to meet Prime Minister Derek Sikua, before returning to Australia that night.
Source:Xinhua
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