Australian PM Kevin Rudd travels to Auckland this month to take part in a trans-Tasman conference on climate change
Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Australian counterpart will participate in a session at the fourth Australia New Zealand Climate Change conference, before holding bilateral talks. Rudd’s Auckland visit on August 19 will be his first trip to New Zealand as Prime Minister.
Clark and Rudd will then travel to Niue together, to attend the Pacific Islands Forum. "I am looking forward to welcoming Kevin Rudd to New Zealand on his first visit as prime minister," Helen Clark said."Our meeting will give us the chance to review bilateral, regional and international issues, including the bilateral trade and economic relationship, and the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue."
Following Rudd’s election as Prime Minister last year Clark travelled to Brisbane for an informal meeting in December, where they discussed green issues over a cuppa.
She says discussions ranged across the "vitally important" trade area, security and development in the Pacific, and regional issues including APEC and the East Asia Summit, as well as efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"Since then, Ministers across a range of economic and social portfolios from both countries have also held formal and informal bilateral talks, as we build on the strong links between New Zealand and Australia," Clark says.
"New Zealand and Australia are neighbours and close friends, and our contemporary relationship is underpinned by common values, shared history, and a very strong partnership across a wide range of policy areas."
Source: TV New Zealand