Australia-New Zealand first 2+2 dialogue, join hands to develop space sector

On January 31, the foreign and defense ministers of New Zealand and Australia met to discuss important global issues.

Ngoại trưởng Winston Peters và Bộ trưởng Quốc phòng Judith Collins đến Melbourne. Nzherald

Foreign Minister Winston Peters (left) and Defence Minister Judith Collins arrived in Melbourne on January 31. (Source: Nzherald)

New Zealand's foreign and defense ministers regularly meet with their Australian counterparts, but this will be the first meeting in the 2+2 format, the New Zealand government said in a statement, Xinhua reported.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins travelled to the Australian port city of Melbourne for the opening.

Speaking at the dialogue, Mr. Peters said: “The meeting is an important opportunity to discuss shared commitments and identify avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation.”

According to Minister Collins, the meeting is an opportunity to adjust and strengthen New Zealand's responses to international developments, especially the new situation in the Pacific region.

New Zealand and Australia have also signed a space cooperation agreement.

Under the agreement, New Zealand space scientists will have up to $3.67 million in funding from the government's Catalyst Fund to participate in collaborative research projects through Australia's SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre.

Projects will focus on Earth observation, space situational awareness and optical communications.

“This partnership agreement between the New Zealand Space Agency and Australia’s leading space research organisation will advance space science, technology and collaboration, while delivering real benefits to New Zealanders,” Minister Collins said.

Ms Collins said the partnership helps address trans-Tasman challenges. Earth observation projects help unlock information about the environment and climate through high-altitude and space-based observations of the Earth.

During the 2+2 dialogue, the ministers are expected to discuss key global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts as well as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

This was the first face-to-face meeting between Foreign Minister Peters and his counterpart Penny Wong and the second between Minister Collins and his counterpart Richard Marles.

Ministers Peters and Collins will also hold separate bilateral discussions with their Australian counterparts before the delegation returns to New Zealand in February 2024.

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