Prime Minister Tony Abbott is pressing Papua New Guinea to speed up the processing of asylum seekers held in detention on Manus Island.

Mr Abbott has arrived in Port Moresby for an official state visit and bilateral talks with the Papua New Guinean prime minister Peter O'Neill.

His visit coincides with the first media tour of the detention centre since it reopened in November 2012.

Several media organisations, including the ABC, will this afternoon visit the centre with PNG judge David Cannings.

PNG is yet to finalise claims and offer permanent resettlement to a single refugee, despite that arrangement being a key part of Australia's border protection policy.

Mr Abbott's visit is a chance to apply some gentle pressure to PNG to speed things up.

"I'm very pleased and very proud of the assistance that PNG has given to Australia in this whole issue of people smuggling and its prevention," he said.

"I'll certainly be talking to prime minister O'Neill over what we can do to swiftly get people out of the Manus camp and get at least some resettled here in PNG, as was agreed with prime minister Rudd about nine months ago."

PNG's role in the Government's border protection policies is crucial but it is difficult for both Mr Abbott and Mr O'Neill to manage.

Recent violence at the Manus Island detention centre saw one asylum seeker killed and around 70 injured.

Human rights groups have decried the living conditions inside the camp.

Both parties expected to protect international relationship

The Lowy Institute's Melanesian Program director Jenny Hayward-Jones expects Mr Abbott will not push Mr O'Neill too hard on the issue.

"It has become a much bigger part of the relationship than either side really wanted to see," she said.

"Now because it involves a very substantial additional aid program and it involves quite a number of inquiries into recent events and general conditions on Manus, it has become a much bigger issue.

"I think both prime ministers will be looking to make sure it doesn't damage other parts of the relationship."

Economic ties and infrastructure will be at the top of the agenda for the bilateral talks between the two prime ministers.

There will be a ceremonial welcome at the PNG parliament, including a 19-gun salute.

Mr Abbott will then visit the governor-general before meetings with the National Executive Council and business leaders.

Mr Abbott and Mr O'Neill are expected to sign a treaty on economic development, to mark a shift away from an aid and development-based relationship.

Mr Abbott will also visit schools that have benefitted from Australia's aid funding and see the partnership between Australian and PNG police that has improved security in Port Moresby.

Ms Hayward-Jones says Mr Abbott will be looking to build a good relationship with Mr O'Neill.

"The visit will be crafted so that he can show himself to be a true friend of PNG and develop an open and friendly relationship with Peter O'Neill, such that they can telephone each other regularly and be on good terms," she said.

"I don't think we'll see any major surprises."