New Zealand PM bolstering free trade talks in meetings with French leaders

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has been shoring up his country's prospects for a free trade agreement with the European Union in talks with French leaders.

Key said in a statement from his office Friday that he had met with French President Francois Hollande and French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Paris and had discussed "areas of mutual interest."

"We discussed the global economy and the potential effects following the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union," said Key.

"The EU is a key trade partner for New Zealand with two-way trade totalling more than 20.6 billion NZ dollars (14.83 billion U.S. dollars)," he said.

"I reiterated to the President the importance we attach to a free trade agreement with the European Union. He was very positive so we come away from this visit very optimistic we are on a good path."

Key said the two leaders also a good discussion about former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark's bid for the United Nations Secretary-General position.

"The President was very positive about Helen Clark, her abilities and the role she could play," said Key.

The meetings came a day after Key held talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome in advance of the start of free trade agreement negotiations between New Zealand and the EU. Endit