New Zealand FM to visit Indonesia, Malaysia

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully left on a four-day trip to Indonesia and Malaysia on Tuesday night.

In Indonesia, the New Zealand foreign minister will take part in the third Joint Ministerial Commission with his counterpart Marty Natalegawa.

" key area of discussion will be ways to strengthen New Zealand ' s already close relationship with Indonesia, with education, defence cooperation, and geothermal energy leading points for discussion," McCully said in a statement on Tuesday.

McCull will also meet with Indonessian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Foreign Affairs Advisor, and former Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, and launch a new Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council.

McCully's visit to Malaysia will involve meetings with Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Anifah Hj Aman, and International Trade and Industry Minister Dato' Mustapa Mohamed.

"The visit will reaffirm New Zealand' long-standing and friendly relationship with Malaysia, which is built on strong links at many levels, as well as increasingly integrated economies, thanks to the Free Trade Agreement which entered into force on Aug. 1," he said.

"Indonesia and Malaysia are also founding members of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and New Zealand is fully committed to a close working relationship with ASEAN, particularly in promoting the development of wider regional integration," McCully added.

Source: Xinhua