Alok Sharma visits Australia

7 Nov 2016 03:21 PM

Alok Sharma, Minister for Asia and the Pacific, is the first UK Minister to visit Australia since the EU referendum.

Mr Sharma will reinforce the strength of the UK’s relationship with Australia in a series of discussions on trade, security and working together to tackle global challenges.

In Sydney, Mr Sharma will meet representatives from the Australia Britain Chamber of Commerce, and the New South Wales Minister for Trade, Tourism, Major Events and Sport, Stuart Ayres. As Australia’s fastest growing state, the Minister will also meet New South Wales politicians from the UK Parliamentary Friendship Group.

He will then travel to Canberra for talks with the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and the Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne, building on the successful Australia-UK Ministerial Dialogue (AUKMIN), held in London in September between the Foreign and Defence Secretaries of both countries.

Also in Canberra, Mr Sharma will speak at a seminar led by the United Nations Association of Australia on how the UK and Australia work together to tackle global challenges like corruption.

He will meet Trade Minister Steve Ciobo, International Development and the Pacific Minister Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Penny Wong.

Minister for Asia and the Pacific Alok Sharma said:

Australia has long been one of the UK’s closest partners and I am committed to broadening and strengthening our relationship further. We have an historic relationship and a modern partnership that really delivers for the people of both our countries.

As the first UK Minister to visit Australia since the British people voted to leave the European Union, I bring with me the clear message that Britain remains open for business and we will continue to play a leading role in the world. Australia was the first country with which we set up a new trade working group following the referendum and we continue to be global allies on defence and security. Our annual ministerial talks in September, known as AUKMIN, were a great success and I look forward to discussing how our already close partnership can continue to grow.

Tomorrow Wednesday 9 November, Alok Sharma will travel to New Zealand for a two-day visit.

Further information

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