Four nations vow to boost PNG's electricity access to 70 pct by 2030

Leaders of the four nations met in PNG's capital, Port Moresby, at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit to unveil the initiative.

The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday said they would work together to ensure most of Papua New Guinea had access to electricity by 2030 as Western allies respond to China's growing presence in the Pacific.

"This high-level partnership forms part of the enduring economic and security partnership between our countries," the Australian and PNG governments said in a joint statement, saying they would create projects to boost electricity access to 70 per cent of the population from 13 per cent currently.

Leaders of the four nations met in PNG's capital, Port Moresby, at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit to unveil the initiative. The move comes amid growing Western concerns about China's increasing influence in the region through its Belt and Road initiative.