Visit to the United States

I will visit New York from 4 to 8 March to sign our maritime boundary treaty with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste at United Nations Headquarters, represent Australia at a meeting of the Kimberley Process, meet US leaders in government and business and mark International Women's Day.

On 6 March, I will join leaders from Timor-Leste to sign the historic Treaty between Australia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Establishing Their Maritime Boundaries in the Timor Sea. Our signing of the treaty will be witnessed by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and the Chair of the Conciliation Commission, Peter Taksøe-Jensen.

This marks a new chapter in our relationship with Timor-Leste, bringing us together as neighbours sharing a boundary, and as partners and friends.

Australia's final role as Chair of the Kimberley Process will be to guide the adoption of a UN General Assembly Resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict. Australia remains a champion of reform of the Process in 2017 to ensure it best addresses conflict diamonds and contemporary challenges to the diamond trade.

During the visit, I will meet US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to discuss Australia-US cooperation in the UN and more broadly. I will also meet business leaders to promote their economic opportunities.

In an address to the Asia Society Policy Institute, I will promote Australia's Foreign Policy White Paper, focusing on Australia's relationships in Southeast Asia.

On 8 March I will observe International Women's Day at the UN with leading US and UN counterparts.