The Department of Foreign Affairs protects and promote Papua New Guinea's national identity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

Papua New Guinea assumed responsibility for the conduct of its foreign relations at Independence on 16th September, 1975. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs was established as the government organ for the formulation, co-ordination and smooth functioning of Papua New Guinea's bilateral and multilateral relations with foreign governments and international organizations, guided by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.  

Together with the 16 fully flagged Diplomatic Missions and four Consulate posts acts as the focal point of contact for co-organizations and foreign Governments. 

The Department is also responsible for managing diplomatic relations with 192 foreign government. Fifteen (15) foreign Governments have resident diplomatic missions in PNG, two foreign governments have Consular Posts and 23 (twenty three) foreign governments are represented by Honorary Consuls in PNG. There are 19 (Nineteen) International Organization represented in the Country.