Albanese travelled to Port Moresby to meet with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, with broad expectations the two countries would sign a treaty.

However, the final agreement remains on hold, though Marape said it was still in progress and being examined by the PNG cabinet.

Marape said Australia remained “head and shoulders” above any other international partner of PNG and was the country’s security partner of choice.

The communique to be signed today “depicts us becoming security partners as we go forward in the future”, Marape said.

“I put on record, it was not an Australian proposal. Australia never asked for this. I want to say thank you very much, my brother,” Marape said.

Albanese said the text of the treaty had been agreed on and would be signed after cabinet processes in both countries.

“This treaty will elevate our relationship to the status of an alliance,” he said.

“It will be Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years, and only the third in our entire history, along with the ANZUS treaty with New Zealand and the United States.”

The “agreed-on” text includes a mutual defence clause.

“As your prime minister and your number one defender, if someone chooses to press a long-range missile some place, I cannot defend this country,” Marape said.

“I have do work, the fastest, quickest, earliest, the best of my ability to make sure the country is able to protect itself.”

He said Australia would be able to benefit from PNG “manpower” as well.

Asked by a reporter whether he was worried China might use the signing delay to lobby against the treaty, Marape pushed back firmly.

“China has been an enduring friend of PNG for the last 50 years,” Marape said.

“It’s in our shared interests to do, it is nothing against our relationship with them. We ask that they respect our choice of security partners.”

He said China had been very respectful of the PNG government.

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence in 1975.

Between the end of WWII and 1975, the land that is now Papua New Guinea was under Australian control.

Part of the current country was a British colonial possession from 1880, and an Australian one from 1902, with the other portion of the country controlled by Germany.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, Albanese announced Australia would help construct a new wing on the PNG parliamentary building that would look from above like a bird of paradise, a national symbol of the country.

“It is also a signal from Australia that we value your democracy,” Albanese said.