John Key. Pic: NZPA

Wellington, April 13 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key caught up with President Barack Obama in Washington today following other high-level meetings with members of the US administration.

Mr Key, who had talks earlier today (NZT) with Vice-President Joe Biden, is attending President Obama's nuclear proliferation summit, the largest assembly hosted by a US president since the founding conference of the United Nations in 1945.

Mr Obama wants the world leaders from 47 nations attending to confront the threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists -- a spectre he labels "the single biggest threat to US security".

His goal at the two-day summit is an international agreement to secure vulnerable nuclear material within four years and to take specific steps to crack down on nuclear smuggling.

Mr Key met Mr Obama on his way into a reception at the summit, and again had a quick word with the him inside where they exchanged pleasantries and talked about their families as photographers took snaps.

Mr Key attended a leaders' working dinner where the threat of nuclear terrorism was discussed.

He told reporters President Obama said New Zealand had "well and truly" earned its place at the table for top level discussions on nuclear security,

"We can offer leadership. We have got to a position where President Obama would like to see the world free of nuclear weapons. The fact that we don't have nuclear capability or nuclear industry doesn't mean we don't have a strong voice."

Earlier Mr Key told NZPA Mr Obama had made significant progress on nuclear issues and New Zealand was happy to lend its anti-nuclear credentials in support.

A year ago in Prague, Mr Obama kicked off action on the issue when he laid out plans for significant nuclear reductions and a nuclear-weapons-free world.

Mr Key was personally invited to attend the summit.

Just before the conference opened the White House announced Ukraine was giving up all its highly enriched uranium, marking success for a major US arms control initiative, and other announcements were also made today.

"There's no question that this is an issue of great import personally to the President of the United States and there is no question that New Zealand has been invited to this conference because of our credentials in this area," Mr Key said.

"We are probably the only country in the world that's legislated for a world free of nuclear weapons and there's no question that is the long-term ambition of this United States President."

Mr Key said he would not "bang on" about New Zealand's record during the summit sessions which would be "interactive and reasonably free-flowing" rather than prepared speeches being delivered.

"I don't think the argument at this point is that everybody should follow the same pathway that New Zealand has, but to point out that I think that a world free of nuclear weapons is a world that we should all want to see, and that the threat of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands, whether that be a rogue state or a rogue organisation like al Qaeda, is a very real threat and it poses potentially catastrophic outcomes for all of us."

Mr Key spent 40 minutes this morning (NZT) with Vice President Biden during which they talked about trade, nuclear proliferation, Afghanistan, climate change and the New Zealand-led global alliance on research to reduce agriculture emissions.

He also caught up with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the sidelines of the 47-nation nuclear security summit in Washington.

Mr Biden told Mr Key New Zealand's relationship with the United States was at the highest point it has been in years.

In a statement following their talks, Mr Biden said New Zealand was an "important partner" on non-proliferation and climate change, and was also an important negotiating partner on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade grouping, which the United States is negotiating to join.

Mr Key said the Vice-President took considerable time out to talk to him.

"I think it was an act of generosity on the Americans' side. We didn't ask for the meeting but they asked for it on their side so I think it was a sign of the improvement in the relationship."

Mr Key also used his meetings with the US administration leaders to discuss trade and tried to ease concerns they had about including agriculture in the TPP.

Talks started last month on the deal in Melbourne, and 30 US senators raised concerns about what they saw as anti-competitive dairy farming practices in New Zealand and were critical of Fonterra.

Mr Key argued there was nothing to fear from freer trade, given the increasing world appetite for more food as the population grows.

On Afghanistan, Mr Biden thanked New Zealand for its contribution in Bamiyan where a 140-strong provincial reconstruction team is working, and for the about 70 Special Air Services troops based in Kabul.

"I also thanked them for their contribution because from New Zealand's point of view, obviously we work alongside our friends and allies in Afghanistan, but we do so because we believe it is in New Zealand's best interests to try and protect the world from the threat of global terrorism," Mr Key said.

"It's a two way street."

They discussed New Zealand's aim of eventually pulling out of Bamiyan. National rolled over the deployment last year and is expected to extend it to 2011.

"We talked about our long term desire to hand over authority to the people of Bamiyan and that Bamiyan was probably a logical starting province for that to take place. It's in the best shape for hand over back to the local authorities."