New Zealand, Australia to jointly promote trade overseas

WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- In a further sign New Zealand and Australia are coming closer together, both governments have ordered their trade promotion agencies to set up joint offices overseas.

The idea of the two countries collaborating on trade promotion was raised at the Australia-New Zealand leadership forum last year.

New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English said the move now has strong political support, Radio New Zealand reported on Monday.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made it clear this is the path ahead, as has New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, English said.

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee said New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has already begun talking to its Australian counterpart, AusTrade, about how the idea could work.

An office is likely to be set up in a location in South-East Asia first as a test run.