Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today wrapped up a substantive and highly productive series of meetings in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

The trip concluded with a speech to the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum, a conference bringing together key government and business figures to promote trade and cooperation between the two countries.

While in Australia, Baird met with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya Plibersek.

Their discussions focused on Canada and Australia’s comprehensive bilateral relationship, as well as on common challenges and opportunities throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The meetings provided an opportunity to tackle key issues, including promoting democracy and religious freedom, preventing early and forced marriage and supporting child and maternal welfare.

“We have a shared interest in a stable, rules-based international order,” said Baird, speaking alongside Julie Bishop at the Economic Leadership Forum. “Canada and Australia need each other in this new world more than we sometimes realize.”

“Our shared future prosperity depends now more than ever on making maximum use of everything that our great nations have in common,” added Baird.

src:news.gc.ca