Feature stories
Visit to Solomon Islands
18 May 2012
Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, visited the Pacific Arts Festival village in Honiara 18 May to see venue preparations for the July festival.
Australia is funding eight volunteers to support Solomon Islands host the Festival of Pacific Arts.
» Photo gallery: Visit to Solomon Islands, May 2012
Visit to Japan
17 May 2012
During his visit to Japan Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Mr Koichiro Gemba, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, sign the Australia-Japan Information Security Agreement.
» Media release: Foreign Minister to visit China and Japan
Visit to Beijing
15 May 2012
On 15 May, his final day in Beijing, Senator Carr met with Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang at Zhongnanhai.
Senator Carr later travelled to the Liaoning provincial capital of Shenyang, where he met with Liaoning Governor Chen Zhenggao and Zeng Wei, the Communist Party Secretary of Shenyang Municipality.
» Media release: Visit to Beijing
Visit to Beijing
14 May 2012
Senator Carr travelled to Beijing and met his counterpart, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, on Monday. They discussed the Australia-China bilateral relationship as well as other regional and global issues.
Senator Carr also met Minister Wang of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, and Lt. General Wei Fenghe, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army.
Visit to Shanghai
12 May 2012
Senator Carr is on his first visit to China as Foreign Minister.
He will meet Chinese Government officials and Australian business representatives in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenyang.
In Shanghai, he met Vice-Mayor Tu Guangshao to discuss the vibrant relationship between Australia and this important Chinese commercial centre.
» Media release: Foreign Minister to visit China and Japan
Budget 2012-2013
8 May 2012
» 2012-13 International Development Assistance Budget
» Australia's four year plan to help the world's poorest
» Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio Budget
» Further details: www.budget.gov.au
Marles attends the annual meeting of CARICOM
4 May 2012
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Richard Marles addressed the annual meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Foreign Ministers during his visit to Suriname.
» Media release: Marles visiting the Caribbean
» Speech: Australia's Address to the Caribbean Community council for foreign and community relations (COFCOR)
Mr Marles meets the Suriname Minister for Foreign Affairs (and current Chair of COFCOR), HE Winston Lackin
Visit to the United States
24 April 2012
Foreign Minister Bob Carr with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 24 April.
Senator Carr is this week meeting officials in the Obama Administration as well as other senior US political figures in Washington D.C.
Senator Carr said he would be using his meetings to emphasise the enduring importance and strength of Australia's relationship with the US.
Visit to Albania
20 April 2012
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Richard Marles visited Albania to strengthen the deepening bilateral relationship, which is based on multilateral cooperation and people-to-people links
» Photo gallery: Visit to Albania, April 2012
» Media release: Marles visit strengthens relationship with Albania
G20 Trade Ministers' meeting
20 April 2012
Trade Minister Craig Emerson addresses delegates at the G20 Trade Ministers' meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
» Speech: Intervention at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting
» Transcript: Press Conference, G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting
Trade Minister in Latin America
17 April 2012
Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson meets with Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Patriota in Brasilia. Dr Emerson is visiting Latin America to promote trade and business links with several countries in the region
» Media release: Trade Minister visits Latin America
Photo: Gustavo Ferreira/ MRE
Foreign Minister Vice Chair of CMAG
16 April 2012
Foreign Minister Bob Carr met UK Foreign Secretary William Hague on April 16, 2012. While in London, he also participated in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting and was elected as Vice Chair of the group.
Media release: Foreign Minister elected Vice-Chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
Council on Australia Latin America Relations grants
11 April 2012
The Council invites funding applications from individuals and organisations for projects that demonstrate the potential for the development of long-term links and cooperation between individuals and institutions in Australia and their counterparts in Latin America. Grant round closes 14 May 2012.
Foreign Minister at the UN Headquarters
10 April 2012
Senator the Hon Bob Carr with H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at UN Headquarters in New York
Media release: Foreign Minister meets with Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Syria
Media release: Foreign Minister to visit United Nations, United States of America, United Kingdom, Belgium, Malta and Turkey
Visit to the Pacific Nations
11 April 2012
The Hon Richard Marles MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia visited the Pacific Nations this month.
Photo gallery: Governor-General's visit to Pacific Nations, 26 March – 3 April 2012
Transcript: Press conference in Noumea, New Caledonia
Transcript: Doorstop with media
Visit by China's Minister for Commerce
10 April 2012
Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson met with Chen Deming, China's Commerce Minister, for talks at Parliament House.
Transcript: ABC News Radio with Marius Benson
How China Trade Benefits Australian Households
3 April 2012
Dr Emerson today launched a report by the Australia China Business Council, focussing on China's importance to Australia. The speech outlined the benefits to Australia of the Australia-China trade relationship and showed that Australia's ongoing economic success lies in strengthening ties with China and the rest of Asia.
Speech: Why China is important to us