PNG decision on asylum processing centre imminen On July 23, 2011

Papua New Guinea officials say they will further consider Australia's plan to re-open the Manus Island processing centre in the next two weeks.

Papua New Guinea's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ano Pala, met with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd at the ASEAN summit in Bali.

Ano Pala says the two discussed further proposals to take to their respective Cabinets and he expects the PNG government to consider them soon.

"We should be able to have a decision in the next two weeks," Mr Pala said.

Mr Pala says the PNG government is functioning well and there is no need to worry about the uncertainty caused by the illness of the Prime Minister, Michael Somare.

Mr Rudd said earlier this week that Australia did not want to go full-steam ahead on the Manus Island talks before political stability had returned to PNG.