The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Hon Stephen Smith mp

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Media release

21 September 2008

Visit to the United Nations General Assembly

I will visit New York from 21 to 26 September to attend the opening of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

I will accompany the Prime Minister who will lead Australia’s delegation to the opening of the General Assembly.

The opening of the General Assembly is an important opportunity to take forward Australia’s policy of greater engagement with the United Nations. Comprehensive engagement with the United Nations is a key pillar of the Australian Government’s foreign policy.

The 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly will focus on important challenges facing the global community, including climate change, food and energy security, the Millennium Development Goals, peacekeeping, and non-proliferation and disarmament. I will meet a range of my foreign ministerial counterparts to discuss these issues.

One of the principal themes of the General Assembly will be climate change. Australia will take the opportunity to support international efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions and to bring about an effective and comprehensive global framework. The Australian Government’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and our decision to adopt a national emissions trading scheme by 2010 provide a firm base for Australia’s high profile in the international community on climate change issues.

Food security will be an important issue at this year’s General Assembly. Australia is committed to long-term solutions which address food insecurity. Australia is using its scientific and development expertise to increase agricultural productivity in developing countries by assisting with improved crop varieties and farming methods. Australia is also working to strengthen rural communities through better access to markets for their crops.

Africa will be a particular focus of my visit to New York. I will represent Australia at the High-Level Meeting on African development needs convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Australia must broaden and deepen our engagement with Africa. Australia has a strong history of providing support in response to humanitarian crises in Africa. As a good international citizen we will continue to do this but burgeoning business and people to people links with the African continent can take our relationship much further.

I will also highlight Australia’s policy on non-proliferation and disarmament during my visit. While in New York, I will chair a Ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Australia is making a significant contribution to addressing global challenges and is determined to ensure the United Nations can and will play a central role in meeting these challenges.

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