The Treasurer will represent Australia at a series of important meetings in London, Washington and New York beginning early next week.
The Treasurer will attend the annual Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting in London on 25-26 September where he will lead discussion on the world economic situation. The meeting will discuss issues relating to sustainable economic development, including follow-up actions from the United Nations Conference on Financing for Development held in March 2002 in Monterrey, Mexico. In addition the Treasurer will address business leaders and investors with an interest in Australia on 23 and 24 September.
In Washington, the Treasurer will attend the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on 28 and 29 September. The meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the outlook, risks and policy responses to the global economy and roles of the IMF and its members in preventing and resolving financial crises and combating the financing of terrorism. Discussions will include progress in implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
In New York, the Treasurer will participate in the panel discussion on Asian economic integration during the US Foreign Policy Association's 2002 World Leadership Forum, and he will give the keynote address at the Merrill Lynch 2002 Australasian Investment Conference.
The Treasurer will also undertake a series of bilateral meetings with senior government officials and financial and business leaders.