Murray McCully

Wellington, March 25 NZPA - Foreign Minister Murray McCully will meet United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when he visits Washington early next month.

Mr McCully's first meeting with his US counterpart will come after the new administration of President Obama put trade talks with New Zealand and other countries on hold.

"The United States is one of New Zealand's oldest friends. We share common values and interests, as well as a commitment to promoting a free, democratic and secure world," Mr McCully said.

"I am looking forward to discussing with Secretary Clinton ways in which we can advance the relationship. We're always looking for more we can do together - particularly in the Pacific region."

Bilateral cooperation in the Pacific, the global financial crisis, the role of international trade, New Zealand's involvement in Afghanistan, and the US role in the Asia Pacific region will be among the topics we discuss in Washington.

Mr McCully will be in Washington from April 6-8. While there, he will chair a ministerial session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

Mr McCully will also meet members of the US-NZ Council, which will host the next partnership forum between New Zealand and the United States in October, and he hopes to meet Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Before heading to the United States, Mr McCully will attend a high-level conference on Afghanistan in The Hague next Tuesday.

NZPA PAR il gt