Peters cheers UK support in Pacific
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters have plans to work closely in the Pacific region.
They met in the Churchill War Rooms in London on Tuesday (NZT).
The pair discussed the United Kingdom’s plans to scale up its engagement in the Pacific, Peters said.
‘‘I made it clear that New Zea- land welcomes these plans and offered practical support for the UK’s efforts.’’
Peters made the suggestion of regular discussions with the UK on Pacific issues, staff secondments, and practical development co-operation.
One example of collaboration would come in late 2019, when New Zealand was due to open a newly built High Commission in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on a site shared with the British High Commission.
‘‘Our discussions also underlined the ongoing strength of the ties between us, as well as the scope that exists for even deeper co-operation in many areas – whether through policy dialogue on priority issues, secondments and exchanges between government agencies, or practical initiatives to work together domestically and around the world,’’ Peters said.
Johnson described the UK as ‘‘one of the Pacific’s oldest friends’’.
‘‘We want to play an even more valuable role as a partner to Pacific Island countries.’’
The UK and New Zealand would also co-host a forum on Pacific climate change issues in the UK in December.
‘‘Pacific Island leaders have shone a light on the grave impacts of climate change,’’ Johnson said.
‘‘This forum will further highlight Pacific challenges and priorities, and show how the Pacific can be an early example for how to develop global responses to climate change.’’
New Zealand has been clear about its plan to put a greater focus on the Pacific in terms of climate change and development.
Johnson and Peters also exchanged views on a range of foreign-policy issues of concern to both countries, including defence and security challenges.
In the wake of the Syrian chemical attack and Russian spy poisoning in the UK, they also discussed the importance of cooperation to preserve and advance the international rules-based system ‘‘at a time when it is under stress’’.
The pair also discussed negotiations on a post-Brexit bilateral free trade agreement.