WELLINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australia's top finance officials met on Thursday to discuss ways to lower business costs and increase the ease with which businesses and people can operate across the Tasman.

"We agreed the Single Economic Market is the best model for close integration of two sovereign independent countries anywhere in the world, and we need to keep it that way," New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis said in a statement after meeting with Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Australia.

New Zealand and Australia have a strong trade and investment relationship, with the Closer Economic Relations and Single Economic Market being powerful engines for growth on both sides of the Tasman, Willis said.

New Zealand also confirmed the commitment to the Australia-New Zealand Climate and Finance 2+2 Dialogue, to be held in Australia in mid-2024, Willis said, adding that working together to tackle the challenges of clean energy transformation is critical if both nations are to maximize the substantial benefits of the transition to net zero.

The two sides stressed the importance of responding to the region's shared economic challenges, including banking challenges.

The two officials agreed to collaborate on opportunities to support ongoing efforts improving the operating environment for financial services in the region, she said, adding that her trip helped build positive relationships with New Zealand's largest trading partner. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)