The exhibition “RUSSIA – PAPUA NEW GUINEA” was opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation as a part of the international project “Miklouho-Maclay. XXI century. Revived History” on April 04, 2019, on the eve of the second in contemporary history of Russia research expedition to the Maclay Coast (Papua New Guinea).
The photo exhibition, which will not leave anyone indifferent, tells about the history of relations between Russia and Papua New Guinea. The exhibited copies of drawings of the Great traveler Nikolay Miklouho-Maclay, made in XIX century during his expeditions to the North-East of New Guinea, and the photos of the Russian expedition in 2017, organized by his descendant and full namesake together with scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, testify this.
Igor Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, made a welcoming speech opening the exhibition. He noted that our relations with Papua New Guinea have recently become more active and that the visit of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neil, to our country is currently planned. Igor Vladimirovich also said that our country is ready to accept citizens of Papua New Guinea to study at the Universities, and there are plans to create Russian Corners in Port Moresby and Madang. “I am convinced of the undoubted benefits of such events, which make an important contribution to the strengthening of mutual understanding between peoples and, taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the Foundation for the ascetic work in promoting the scientific achievements of our outstanding compatriot, and to assure you that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to continue supporting the Foundation and all your initiatives aimed at developing relations with friendly Papua New Guinea”, – Morgulov summed up.
The Miklouho-Maclay Foundation Director Nickolay Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay told about the history of the exhibition and the expedition in 2017 – it was the residents of Papua New Guinea who sincerely met the expedition in 2017, their attitude to Russia and Miklouho-Maclay prompted to create this exhibition project, which started a year ago in Saint-Petersburg and became so popular – 35 exhibitions have been held with a great success in Russia and Papua New Guinea over the past year! Then Nickolay Nikolaevich conducted a tour through the exhibition for the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministries and Departments of the Russian Federation, Ambassadors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo, the “Russian World” Foundation, the State Museum of Oriental Art and for other honored guests, who, it should be noted, were more than 80 people!
We hope that the expedition of 2019 will further strengthen the relations between our countries, and such exhibition projects could show and tell about the distant, but so close, Maclay Coast, about its inhabitants and its discoverer N.N. Miklouho-Maclay.
