MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Hon Julie Bishop MP

I will visit Washington DC from 30 March to 2 April to attend the fourth global Nuclear Security Summit, chaired by President Barack Obama

At the Summit I will join world leaders in urging the international community to maintain strong cooperation on nuclear security. I will also discuss new opportunities to counter the ever-present threat of terrorists acquiring nuclear material or sabotaging nuclear facilities.

Australia already makes a significant contribution to nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation. In a global review of nuclear security by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Australia has ranked first in the world since 2014 on measures against the theft of nuclear materials.

Australia’s leadership in nuclear security supports our leading roles on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Additional Protocol on strengthened safeguards, and the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification.

Ahead of the Summit I will sign a cooperation agreement to supply uranium to Ukraine for use in power generation.  This complements similar agreements Australia has with countries including Canada, China, France, India, Japan, ROK, Russia, the UK and the USA.

I will be attending a dinner meeting at the White House hosted by President Obama and have meetings scheduled with world leaders including UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as a number of my Foreign Minister counterparts.