I am happy to announce that New Zealand's Prime Minister, Mrs
Jenny Shipley, has accepted my invitation to visit Australia. Mrs
Shipley will visit Sydney on 19-20 February.
New Zealand is one of Australia's closest and most important
partners. I am confident this visit - Mrs Shipley's first since
she became Prime Minister - will build on the strong relationship
between our two countries.
Mrs Shipley will come to Kirribilli House on 19 February for dinner.
We will continue our discussions at a meeting the next day.
I look forward to discussing with Mrs Shipley the many issues in which
we have shared interests, both trans-Tasman and in our region, including
our mutual commitment to assisting the peace process on Bougainville
and the impact of the economic crisis in Asia.