Visit to the United States

Today I depart for a week long visit to Washington and New York.

In Washington I will continue the Government's close consultation with US counterparts on shared foreign policy and security challenges, including countering violent extremism in the wake of recent attacks in Paris, Ottawa and Sydney. Countering terrorism in all its forms is one of the Government's highest national security priorities.

I will meet with senior leaders in the White House and US security officials and on 20 January I will attend President Obama's State of the Union Address at the Capitol.

I will address the Alliance 21 Washington Conference, co-hosted by the Brookings Institute and Sydney University's US Studies Centre, on global security threats. I look forward to visiting USAID's Global Development Lab and hosting a roundtable to promote the private sector's role in overseas development, an important pillar of the Government's new aid paradigm.

I will open the ANZAC Centenary Exhibition at the Australian Embassy in Washington, which commemorates the sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women, from World War I to the present day.

In New York I will deliver the annual Australian Outlook Luncheon address to senior business leaders and meet potential investors in Australia.

In both cities I will participate in G'Day USA – a high profile annual series of events which showcases Australian innovation, technology, products and business capabilities in major cities across the United States. This year around 200 Australian and 450 US companies will participate and more than 15,000 people are expected to attend events.