New Zealand PM welcomes German backing for EU trade deal
Xinhua, December 2, 2015 Adjust font size:
The leaders of New Zealand and Germany have expressed their hope that talks on a free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand will begin as soon as possible.
The statement came in a joint communique issued after talks between New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
The two leaders welcomed the announcement that the EU and New Zealand would start the process for negotiations "and we look forward to this taking place as soon as possible," it said.
Key said in a statement from his office Wednesday that he welcomed Merkel's "support for this important undertaking."
"Germany is the world's fourth biggest economy so today's meeting was a good opportunity to discuss further trade and economic opportunities," said Key.
"We also discussed international issues, including the international response to terrorism, the situation in Syria and refugee and migration issues."
The relationship between the two countries had grown significantly since Merkel's successful visit to New Zealand late last year, he said.
Key also announced the two countries would be establishing a working group to look at scientific ways to address some of the global challenges facing agriculture, and New Zealand would host the working group's first meeting in 2016. Endit