Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting

I will host the biannual Australia - New Zealand Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 24 July at Victor Harbour in South Australia. This will be my tenth such meeting with the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Phil Goff MP.

We will discuss at the meeting further opportunities to develop our Closer Economic Relations Agreement with New Zealand, now 21 years old, and to continue work on creating a single economic market. These goals were agreed at the inaugural Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum which I attended in Wellington in May.

We will exchange views on our Free Trade Agreement negotiations and outcomes - including on Australia's FTA with Thailand, and the Australia - China FTA feasibility study . We will discuss the way ahead for a possible Free Trade Agreement between ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand.

Of course we will exchange views on global issues, including the global campaign against terrorism, Iraq's rehabilitation, and developments on the Korean Peninsula. Arms control and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will also feature.

We will announce at the conclusion of the talks on 25 July the outcome of our negotiations to delimit the maritime boundaries between Australia and New Zealand. This will be an important event, bringing to fruition four years of negotiations.

Our regular discussions reflect the strength of trans-Tasman relations and our strong cooperation. These talks have proven valuable in advancing Australia's and New Zealand's common interests in the region, including reform of the Pacific Islands Forum and support for our neighbours to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and improved governance. The successful Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which commemorates its first anniversary this week, is an outstanding example of our collaboration.

Media inquiries: Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's Office) 02 6277 7500, Justin Lee (Departmental) 02 6261 1555