I am pleased to announce that I will visit the United States to meet President Obama on 24 March.
I will be discussing with him a coordinated international response to the global economic crisis and how we can work together in Afghanistan.
We will also discuss how we can have even closer cooperation between our two countries on the great shared challenges of climate change, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and the future shape of the Asia-Pacific region.
Our alliance with the United States is the bedrock of our foreign and security policy. A strong relationship with the United States is critical for Australia's future.
I look forward to using my meetings in Washington to build on the strong ties that already exist between our nations.