27 Feb 2015

Indonesian minister makes flying Pacific visit

2:49 pm on 27 February 2015

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is visiting three Melanesian countries ahead of joint ministerial talks with New Zealand in Auckland next week.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Photo: AFP

She is first in Papua New Guinea and will visit Solomon Islands on Saturday and then Fiji.

An Indonesian government spokesperson says while economic cooperation between Indonesia and the Pacific is relatively insignificant, it has shown a steady increase in the last few years and has the potential to be developed further.

The visit comes amid growing Pacific support for West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.