Batam, Riau Islands Province (ANTARA News) - The governments of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) discussed border issues during a Joint Border Committee Meeting here Thursday.

"There were 11 points in the discussion agenda during the meeting. And there were eight points yet to be discussed," Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said after the meeting.

He said the meeting was important among other things to discuss the realization of border openings, the handling of pollution in rivers flowing through both countries, the establishment of a trade and investment sub committee, disease mapping and identification in border areas, optimization of Marauke and Boven Digul borders, and the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on environmental affairs which was signed by the two neighboring countries.

The environmental affairs ministries of both nations will specifically discuss about the river pollution, Minister Gamawan said.

The joint Border Committee Meeting held in Batam was a follow up of the Jakarta meeting previously.

(SYS/F001/A014)

Editor: Suryanto
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