20 January 2009
Foreign Minister Smith to hold talks with New Zealand counterpart
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Stephen Smith, will hold bilateral discussions with his New Zealand counterpart, Mr Murray McCully, in Perth on Wednesday 21 January.
This is Minister McCully's first visit to Australia as Foreign Minister since the New Zealand Government came to office following elections on 8 November last year.
The trans-Tasman relationship is of great importance to both countries. Australia and New Zealand cooperate on a range of regional and international issues - including how to assist Fiji return to democracy.
The Australia-New Zealand trade and economic relationship continues to expand and deepen.
Australia and New Zealand also enjoy strong defence and security links with our defence forces and police services working closely together including in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
The bonds Australia and New Zealand have shared over the years as ANZACs on the battlefield will be recognised with a wreath-laying ceremony at the State War Memorial in King's Park.
Minister McCully and Minister Smith will attend Western Force rugby team training. They will meet players and coaching staff ahead of Friday's pre-season game between Western Force and the Canterbury Crusaders.
Mr McCully was appointed New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister on 17 November 2008. Mr Smith and Mr McCully met soon afterwards - on 19 November - at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, and also at the Ministerial Contact Group meeting in Suva on 10-11 December.
Australia looks forward to working closely with Minister McCully and the New Zealand Government to advance our respective regional and international objectives.
Media inquiries
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555