New Zealand has agreed to become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which is being established to invest in new infrastructure across Asia, Finance Minister Bill English and Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully say.

The Bank is a China-led initiative aimed at addressing a significant gap in infrastructure investment in the Asian region.

“Increased infrastructure investment will enhance the Asian region’s growth and that will be good for New Zealand,” Mr English says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully departs on an official visit to the Middle East and Cyprus this weekend.

Minister McCully will be meeting with leaders and senior Ministers in Egypt, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and Cyprus, as well as Arab League officials in Cairo. 

“New Zealand will begin our presidency of the United Nations Security Council in July, and matters relating to the Middle East and the on-going situation in Cyprus will be on the agenda,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed a visit to New Zealand by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Slovak Republic , Miroslav Lajčák.

“Mr Lajčák’s visit is the first by a Slovakian Foreign Minister since 1999 and it is an opportunity to reaffirm the friendship between our two countries,” Mr McCully says.

“Our meeting today will cover a range of regional security issues, including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and New Zealand’s first five months on the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced New Zealand will be opening an Embassy in Baghdad, which will be headed by career diplomat James Munro.

“As signalled when the decision to deploy to Iraq was announced, the Government has now finalised arrangements to open a permanent mission in Baghdad,” Mr McCully says.

“Our resident Ambassador will be charged with supporting New Zealand’s non-combat training mission to Iraq and assessing how we can better support and build relations with the Iraqi government.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed a visit to New Zealand by Mr Hu Chunhua, Politburo Member of CPC Central Committee and Party Secretary of Guangdong Province.

“The China relationship is a rapidly growing and wide-ranging one, covering trade and economic matters but also political and cultural ties,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister McCully has welcomed tomorrow’s visit to New Zealand by Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister, Hernani Coelho.

“New Zealand and Timor-Leste share a strong relationship based our on-going support for peace and security in Timor-Leste following their move to independence in 2002,” Mr McCully says.

“We cooperate closely on the global stage, including on UN issues. New Zealand strongly appreciated Timor-Leste’s support for our successful campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomes Singaporean Foreign Minister Mr K Shanmugam to New Zealand.

“This year we mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Singapore, and the 50th anniversary of Singapore as a state,” Mr McCully says.

“2015 is also the 40th Anniversary of New Zealand’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Singapore is a founding member.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the news that two well-known illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessels, Songhua and Yongding, have been found and boarded by local authorities in Cabo Verde.

“These are two of the three fishing vessels that were intercepted by the Royal New Zealand Navy in the Southern Ocean in January,” Mr McCully says.

“We are encouraged by the action taken by the Government of Cabo Verde and New Zealand has offered its full assistance in taking action against these vessels.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York today for Security Council related meetings and then to Saint Lucia to attend the annual Caribbean Foreign Minister’s Meeting (COFCOR).

“In July this year New Zealand will take over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the first time this term,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has today announced diplomat Sarah Walsh as New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to Tonga.

“New Zealand has a strong relationship with Tonga, based on a population of more than 60,000 Tongans resident in New Zealand, development cooperation, and our shared interest in regional issues,” Mr McCully says.

“Our High Commissioner in Tonga is responsible for overseeing our $28 million aid programme, which has a focus on renewable energy, education and training, private sector development, and policing.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna have officially opened solar arrays on the Northern Cook islands of Penrhyn and Manihiki this week, and marked the completion of the Cook Islands Solar Project.

“The new solar arrays will provide over 95 per cent of the electricity needs for the villages they connect to, and deliver power to more than 230 homes and public buildings,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is sending engineering personnel to Nepal to help assess the damage caused by the Anzac Day earthquake.

“The Nepalese Government has requested assistance from New Zealand experts with damage assessments of critical public infrastructure, including government buildings and hospitals,” Mr McCully says.

“Four New Zealand engineers, with considerable experience in earthquake strengthening, have volunteered their time and they are en route to Nepal.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully and a Parliamentary delegation will travel to the Cook Islands next week to meet with Prime Minister Puna and mark the final stages of the $20.5 million Cook Islands Solar Project.

“This year we will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Cook Islands’ self-government and the special relationship between New Zealand and the Cooks,” Mr McCully says.

“We will meet with Prime Minister Henry Puna to discuss arrangements for the anniversary, regional issues, and our development assistance to the Cook Islands.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Dr Riyad al-Malki to New Zealand.

“New Zealand is committed to using our role on the United Nations Security Council to inject new momentum into negotiations on the Middle East Peace Process,” Mr McCully says.

“We have been clear in our view that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is not sustainable, and our friendships with Israel and Palestine demand we play a part in helping to find a solution.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to China this weekend for official engagements in Beijing and Guangzhou.

“In Beijing I will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for discussions covering regional cooperation, trade and economic matters, and the issues which are currently before the United Nations Security Council,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will make a further contribution of $1million to assist Nepal as it responds to the ANZAC Day earthquake.

“The $1 million announced today will support accredited New Zealand non-government organisations, with partners on the ground in Nepal, on a matched-funding basis,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is dismayed by Indonesia’s decision to carry out the execution of members of the ‘Bali 9’ and other prisoners.

“New Zealand is strongly opposed to the death penalty in all cases, and under all circumstances,” Mr McCully says.

“We have expressed our opposition to the death penalty to Indonesia and I made this clear when I met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister recently.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that the New Zealand Urban Search and Rescue team due to leave for Nepal overnight has been stood down.

“New Zealand is committed to helping the people of Nepal recover from the devastating earthquake which struck on ANZAC Day,” Mr McCully says.

“Our USAR team has been on stand-by since Sunday and was due to head to Nepal last night. Prior to their departure, the Nepalese Government informed us that they had enough USAR capability in-country and our team was no longer required.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that the New Zealand Government has approved the deployment of an Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR) to Nepal.

“Nepal has accepted our offer to send an USAR team to Kathmandu, and a 37 strong contingent will depart New Zealand this evening," Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will make an initial contribution of $1 million to assist Nepal following yesterday’s devastating earthquake.

“New Zealand’s contribution will be provided to agencies that are active on the ground and have the capability to provide immediate assistance,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand stands ready with financial and practical assistance as Nepal responds to the devastating ANZAC Day earthquake.

“Although it will take some days to learn the full extent of the tragedy, the casualty toll in dead and injured and the damage to Nepal’s infrastructure and economy are clearly massive," Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand is considering options and is keen to provide help as soon as the Nepali authorities indicate what would be most useful in the context of the wider international response.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Nick Hurley as New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

“New Zealand and the Cook Islands have a unique relationship, based on historical ties and shared citizenship,” Mr McCully says.

“This year is the fiftieth anniversary of Cook Islands self-government in free association with New Zealand, and there are a range of events to celebrate this milestone taking place later this year.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on Yemen and called for the resumption of political dialogue between all parties involved in the conflict.

“We are deeply concerned by the situation in Yemen and the impact the conflict is having on civilians,” Mr McCully says.

“Without political dialogue, and the Houthis returning to the negotiating table, the crisis in Yemen will only continue to deepen.