Papua New Guinea's trade minister will fly the flag for free trade when he hosts counterparts from 20 Asia-Pacific countries.
Port Moresby is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation leaders summit in November, but trade ministers are getting together six months ahead of the meeting to lay some groundwork.
"We need to show how free trade will deliver benefits to our citizens," PNG Trade Minister Rimbink Pato said in a speech to dignitaries at the University of Papua New Guinea.
"We have to take our people with us on this journey."
Australian Assistant Trade Minister Mark Coulton is in Port Moresby for the talks.
He trumpeted Australia's support for economic openness and a rules-based multilateral trading system, and said he was keen to discuss ways to boost women's economic empowerment.
"Protectionism in the region would only take us all backwards," New Zealand parliamentary under-secretary Fletcher Tabuteau said.
APEC covers Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
