Historic act by Anthony Albanese to mark Anzac Day at one of the country’s most sacred military sites

Anthony Albanese will commemorate Anzac Day by walking part of the Kokoda Track alongside his Papua New Guinea counterpart, James Marape.

As Australia works to strengthen its diplomatic ties with the Pacific nation, the two prime ministers will spend a few days walking before attending a dawn service in Isurava on April 25 to commemorate the 600 Australian deaths during the Kokoda Campaign of World War II.

Announcing her visit on Friday, Mr Albanese said she would honor the sacrifice of hundreds of Australians who fought along the track to defend against a Japanese invasion more than 80 years ago.

“This year on Anzac Day I will be in Isurava on the Kokoda Trail, taking the opportunity to show my respect for the remarkable efforts to protect our nation in one of its darkest hours,” he said in a speech Friday.

“We will come together in the peace brought to us by generations of Australians who have taken up arms in our name.”

“We will come together to remember all those who have served and all those who serve today. We will remember all those who lost their lives, all those who survived and returned home.

Mr Albanese will become the first sitting prime minister to walk the famous track, and it follows his historic speech to PNG’s parliament last January – the first Australian prime minister to do so.

Mr Marape addressed the Australian parliament in Canberra in February.

Kevin Rudd walked the track in 2006 when he was leader of the opposition, as did Scott Morrison in 2009 when he was a backbencher.

Mr Albanese will become the first sitting Prime Minister to walk the famous track

The famous track stretches 96km – 60km in a straight line – from the Kokoda Plateau to Owers Corner, where Australian forces were stationed in July 1942 to halt the Japanese advance on the capital Port Moresby.

In addition to the 600 people who died, thousands of other Australians were seriously injured or fell ill.