New Zealand, Australian gov'ts to hold Leaders' Meeting in New Year
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will visit Australia from Jan. 27 to 29 next year for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting and a joint meeting of senior Cabinet ministers.
It would be the second time the two prime ministers had convened a joint meeting of senior Cabinet ministers after the first in 2009, said a New Zealand government statement.
Key would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and six other ministers some of them with portfolios with significant trans-Tasman responsibilities who would have the opportunity to engage individually with their Australian counterparts.
New Zealand Minister of Health Tony Ryall and Minister of Commerce Craig Foss would participate in the first meeting on Jan. 28 of the Ministerial Council to oversee work on establishing a joint therapeutics agency.
"The annual Leaders' Meeting provides an opportunity for both countries to start the New Year with a focus on issues of mutual interest in domestic policies, the bilateral relationship and regional and international affairs," said Key in the statement.
"That ministers on both sides of the Tasman have found time to participate in these meetings in January demonstrates the closeness of the trans-Tasman relationship."
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had invited Key and the New Zealand Ministers as guests of the Australian government.
Editor: Yang Lina
English.news.cn 2011-12-21 14:12:52
WELLINGTON, Dec. 21 (Xinhua)
