PNG can play catch up on goals: PM

PNG's prime minister says it will take time to play catch up on global goals such as reducing poverty and increasing education but progress is being made.

Kiribati's President Anote Tong, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

Papua New Guinea's prime minister insists his country will do much better on the next lot of UN development goals, but isolated communities pose an enormous challenge.

PNG has achieved none of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, which include poverty eradication and gender equality, but Peter O'Neill maintains there is some progress, such as one million more children attending school.

World leaders will sign off on the new sustainable development goals in New York later this month.