Joint statement with Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie
Joint Statement
The Minister for Foreign Affairs ofAustralia, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, made her first official visit to theArgentine Republic on 25 to 27 June 2017. Minister Bishop held a meetingand working lunch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and an audience withMadam Vice President.
BothMinisters emphasised the excellent level of the bilateral relationship andagreed to continue growing the political and economic exchanges and cooperationin areas of mutual interest such as agriculture, mining, education, economicreform, peaceful use of nuclear energy and aerospace.
TheMinisters welcomed the significant increase in bilateral trade in thefirst four-month period of 2017 (45%)and agreed to carry out specific actions to strengthen this trend, as well asgenerate new investment in sectors of strategic importance to bothcountries. Additionally, Ministers agreed to explore cooperationpossibilities between MERCOSUR and CER (Australia-New Zealand Closer EconomicRelations Trade Agreement).
2017 markedthe 10th anniversary of the opening of the Lucas Heights Open-PoolAustralian Lightwater (OPAL) nuclear research reactor, designed and constructedby the Argentine company INVAP. The Ministers expressed theirsatisfaction in the reliability of the reactor, which enables us to continueprogressing cooperation in the nuclear energy field.
TheMinisters welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)regarding the establishment of a bilateral consultation mechanism between theForeign Ministries and agreed to exchange views and experiences on implementinggender equity and diversity.
They also welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understandingon cooperation in the field of Education, Research and Technical andProfessional Training between the Argentine Ministry of Education and Sportsand the Australian Department of Education and Training which will provide aframework for enhancing and promoting cooperation in these fields.
In addition,they signalled the importance of strengthening personal bonds and encouragingthe development of relationships across all fields, including culture, sports and other areas of mutualinterest.
For its part, the Australian governmentreported its commitment to establish a second representative responsible forcooperation in education, training and research in Latin America, from late2017.
Likewise, they agreed to a modification tothe MoU on Work and Holiday visas, which will see the annual reciprocal quotaincreased to 1500. This is further evidence of the success of the Workand Holiday program that allows young Argentines and Australians to enjoy atwelve month stay in each other's country, including undertaking short studyopportunities together with work activities as part of their stay.
MinisterBishop welcomed the decision by Argentina to eliminate the requirement to pay areciprocity tax for Australian passport holders.
The Ministers expressed their satisfactionwith the existing relationship and cooperation in the diverse areas of themultilateral agenda such as the United Nations reforms, human rights,Antarctica and environmental matters.
Minister Faurie reaffirmed the Argentine government's decision to reacha new status in the OECD. In this regard, Minister Bishop expressed firmsupport for Argentina's full membership aspirations. In turn, theMinisters committed to working closer together to achieve a successful 11thMinisterial Conference of the WTO (MC11) in Buenos Aires. Theyhighlighted both countries shared interests in advancing negotiations inagricultural matters and in fisheries subsidies, among others, and theycommitted to continue working together in a coordinated manner.
In addition, they outlined the mutualopportunities generated by the G20 Summit hosted by Argentina in 2018. Inthis sense, Minister Bishop reaffirmed the commitment by Australia incontinuing to support Argentina and its organising efforts. Minister Jorge Faurie, thanked Australia for its collaboration in the G20Presidency in 2018, providing Argentina the opportunity to benefit fromAustralia's organising experience.
