Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho presented her diplomatic credentials to the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Mr Bob Dadae, KStJ, in Port Moresby on Tuesday.

The Princess has diplomatic accreditation to Papua New Guinea with ambassadorial residence in Canberra, Australia and is now the High Commissioner of Tonga to Papua New Guinea in addition to her duties as High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia.

Tonga and PNG have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1980.

The Governor General assured the Princess of the historical and diplomatic ties maintained between the two countries and of the deepening relations forged at all levels and at the people-to-people level.

The Princess paid tribute to the work of Tongan missionaries as early Tongan diplomats to Papua New Guinea and expressed her commitment of her responsibility to continue to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

During her three-day visit the Princess also met PNG’s Prime Minister, Hon Peter O’Neill, Government Ministers and senior Government officials. She also reaffirmed PNG’s commitment to assist Tonga in preparation for the Pacific Games 2019 when she met with Hon. Justin Tkatchenko MP, PNG's Minister of Sports.

The Tongan community in PNG, including descendants of early Tongan missionaries, met the Princess who also laid a wreath the grave of the late Reverend Sione Kami a Tongan missionary in Papua New Guinea.