Hon Gerry Brownlee
Minister of Foreign Affairs
25 July 2017
New talks with UK to strengthen friendship
Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed further engagement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
“The establishment of a people-to-people dialogue has been announced during Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s visit to
New Zealand,” Mr Brownlee says.
“New Zealand and the United Kingdom enjoy a broad and enduring partnership. At its foundation are the connections
between the people of our two countries.
“The Foreign Secretary and I agreed that enhancing those connections will help support a stronger political and economic
relationship between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
“The dialogue will provide a forum for discussing a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including how we might
improve the opportunities that exist for our citizens to live and work in each other’s countries.
“The relationship New Zealand shares with the United Kingdom is an important one. The UK is our fifth largest trading
partner and one of our closest international security partners.
“As the United Kingdom looks to reshape its relationships around the world following its decision to leave the European
Union, we see enhanced engagement as an opportunity to further strengthen the friendship the UK and New Zealand have
enjoyed for so long,” Mr Brownlee says.
The people-to-people dialogue will be convened at officials’ level at six monthly intervals. It will complement the
existing trade policy dialogue, and strategic dialogue on foreign policy.
ends