Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern to meet in Queenstown for leader talks
Scott Morrison has scheduled a face-to-face meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Here are the critical topics on their agenda.
National
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Rising tensions with China and the severe economic impact of Covid-19 in the Pacific will dominate face-to-face talks between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern.
Mr Morrison will travel to Queenstown on Sunday for the annual talks between the two prime ministers, in what will be the first meeting of world leaders without masks in a Covid-free country since the pandemic began.
It is only Mr Morrison’s second time leaving Australia in more than a year, signalling the significance of the Australia-New Zealand relationship amid a global pandemic and increasingly antagonistic China.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Morrison described the two nations as a “family” that “shares values and common interests,” and “wants the same thing” for the Pacific region.
“This partnership will be even more vital in the years ahead as we both confront an increasingly challenging geo-strategic environment,” he said.
“These talks will be an important opportunity for us to continue our efforts to support an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific, where sovereign states can pursue their interests free from coercion.”
New Zealand has appeared increasingly concerned about the rise of China in the region amid fears the country could be swept up in the ongoing Australia-China trade war.
“We cannot ignore, obviously, what’s happening in Australia with their relationship with China,” New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said last week.
“If they are close to an eye of the storm or in the eye of the storm, we’ve got to legitimately ask ourselves – it may only be a matter of time before the storm gets closer to us.”
The leaders’ meeting will also highlight the success of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, with all Australians except those currently locked down in Victoria able to travel freely without a 14-day quarantine period.
Mr Morrison said the “simple fact” he could meet with Ms Ardern in person highlighted their countries’ “success in controlling the spread of the pandemic”.
“Quarantine-free travel not only means the Prime Minister and I can hold our annual talks in person, it highlights that our travel bubble is seeing friends and family reunite across the ditch,” he said.
Mr Morrison said it was important Australia work closely with New Zealand to support the Pacific through the pandemic, including through delivering 7.5 million vaccines across the region.
“The success of our region has unfortunately come at great economic cost for many, which is why Australia and New Zealand have worked bilaterally and with like-minded partners, including international financial institutions, to step-up financial support to our Pacific family,” he said.
Mr Morrison’s wife Jenny will also be on the trip, and has planned to visit a primary school and charity in Queenstown with Ms Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford.
After a welcome ceremony and business event on Sunday afternoon, the prime ministers and their partners will have a private dinner, with the official talks to take place Monday morning before Mr Morrison returns to Australia.
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Originally published as Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern to meet in Queenstown for leader talks
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