Country Briefs

Australia and Paraguay established diplomatic relations in 1974.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has an estimated population of approximately 9 million (World Bank). The PNG mainland and its six hundred islands have a total land area of 452,860 square kilometres. Most people living in PNG are Melanesian, but some are Micronesian or Polynesian. PNG has over 800 known languages. English, Tok Pisin (Pidgin), and Hiri Motu (the lingua franca of the Papuan region) are the official languages.

The Republic of Palau consists of a tightly clustered archipelago of approximately 300 (Source: Palau Visitors Authority) islands with a total land area of 458 square kilometres, 1,500 kilometres to the east of the Philippines. The country's resident population of approximately 18,000 people live on nine of the islands.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is situated between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, at the strategically important mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan is today the world’s fifth most populous country, with a population of more than 240 million, and projects an active voice in the South Asia region and within the Islamic world.

Australia and the Kingdom of Norway established diplomatic ties in 1947 and share a commitment to agreed international rules and norms, human rights, good governance, gender equality, First Nations issues, sustainable development, clean energy, and liberalised trade. 

Strong community ties and cooperation in international forums. Growing Australian business investment.

The island of Niue is located in Polynesia, east of Tonga and northeast of New Zealand.

New Zealand comprises two main narrow and mountainous islands, the North Island and the South Island, separated by Cook Strait, and a number of smaller outlying islands. Its total land area is approximately 263,310 square kilometres (about the combined area of Victoria and Tasmania). New Zealand claims a maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of a little over four million square kilometres, the fifth‑largest in the world and more than 15 times its land mass.

New Caledonia is a semi-autonomous French territory. Under the Noumea Accord signed in 1998, the French State retains sovereignty for defence, foreign affairs, law and order, monetary policy, and tertiary education and research.

Australia and the Netherlands advance common goals on human rights, rules-based trade, multilateralism and security, including cyber security and non proliferation and disarmament.