The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Hon Stephen Smith mp

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

Galleries

Visit by New Caledonian delegation, March 2010 : Minister Smith met with a high level delegation from New Caledonia in Parliament House, Canberra on 9 March 2010. The delegation included the French High Commissioner in New Caledonia, Mr Yves Dassonville, the President of the Government of New Caledonia, and Mr Philippe Gomès, the President of the Congress. Photos by Auspic.

Visit by New Caledonian delegation, March 2010

Visit by Indonesian Foreign Minister, March 2010 : Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono visited Australia on 9-11 March where he made an historic address to the Australian Parliament and issued a Joint Statement with PM Rudd agreeing to upgrade the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Indonesian and Australian Foreign Ministers Dr Marty Natalegawa and Mr Stephen Smith signed an Implementation Framework for Cooperation to Combat People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons and reaffirmed a commitment to deepening people-to-people links. Trade Ministers Dr Mari Pangestu and Mr Simon Crean agreed to explore ways to realise the potential of the economic relationship.

Visit by Indonesian Foreign Minister, March 2010

Visit to India, March 2010 : Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Stephen Smith MP, visited India from Tuesday 2 March to Thursday 4 March 2010.

Visit to India, March 2010

Vindaloo Against Violence, February 2010 :

Vindaloo Against Violence, February 2010

Visit by Japanese Foreign Minister, February 2010 : Visit by Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr Katsuya Okada, Perth, February 2010

Visit by Japanese Foreign Minister, February 2010

Visit to the United Kingdom, February 2010 :

Visit to the United Kingdom, February 2010

Visit to Austria, February 2010 :

Visit to Austria, February 2010

Visit to Spain, February 2010 :

Visit to Spain, February 2010

Visit to Slovak Republic, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith with Foreign Minister Mr Miroslav Lajcak, February 2010 :

Visit to Slovak Republic, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith with Foreign Minister Mr Miroslav Lajcak, February 2010

Visit by UAE Foreign Minister, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, February 2010 :

Visit by UAE Foreign Minister, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, February 2010

Visit by New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, February 2010 :

Visit by New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, February 2010

Visit to Botswana and South Africa, January 2010 : On 25 and 26 January 2010, Minister Smith conducted his first visit to southern Africa as Foreign Minister.

Visit to Botswana and South Africa, January 2010

Visit to the Republic of Korea, December 2009 : On the 15 and 16 December 2009, Mr Smith conducted his second visit to the Republic of Korea as Foreign Minister.

Visit to the Republic of Korea, December 2009

The Asia-Pacific Conference, Sydney December 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith participated in the Asia-Pacific community conference from 3-5 December, 2009. Whilst there, Mr Smith met with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Australia, Mr Jeffrey L Bleich.

The Asia-Pacific Conference, Sydney December 2009

Visit to Trinidad and Tobago November 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith travelled to to Trinidad and Tobago from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 Novemer 2009 to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Whilst there, he formally met Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Visit to Trinidad and Tobago November 2009

Visit to Cuba November 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited Cuba on Monday 23 November, 2009. This was the first visit to Cuba by an Australian Foreign Minister since 1995. Mr Smith previously met his counterpart, Foreign Minister Rodriguez, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September 2009. Cuba is an active participant in international organisations and an influential country in its region. It also contributes to development assistance in our region, providing medical assistance and training to Pacific Island countries and East Timor.

Visit to Cuba November 2009

Meeting with Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organization (WHO) November 2009 :

Meeting with Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organization (WHO) November 2009

APEC November 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited Singapore from Tuesday 10 November to Thursday 12 November, 2009 to participate in the 21st APEC Ministerial Meeting.

APEC November 2009

Visit to Sri Lanka November 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited Sri Lanka on Monday 9 November, 2009. It was the first visit to Sri Lanka by an Australian Foreign Minister since 2003. Mr Smith's counterpart, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, visited Australia in October 2008. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sri Lanka on legal cooperation against people smuggling. The MOU was signed by Australia’s Special Representative to Sri Lanka, John McCarthy, and Sri Lanka’s Justice Secretary, Suhada Gamalath.

Visit to Sri Lanka November 2009

Partnership with the World Food Programme October 2009 : On 26 October 2009, Ms Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the WFP, and Foreign Minister Smith signed a new, $180 million four-year Strategic Partnership Agreement. Australia and the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) are strengthening our partnership in the fight against global hunger, which affects more than one billion people.

Partnership with the World Food Programme October 2009

Visit to Op Padang Assist October 2009 : Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP, visited members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID, in the City of Padang in West Sumatra. While in Padang the minister was shown the Army’s water purification unit in operation before attending a meeting with the Governor of West Sumatra. To finish the visit, he was taken on a flight in a Royal Australian Navy Seaking helicopter to view the earthquake affected areas to the north of the city where ADF members are operating a health care facility and working to clear a landslide affected area, repair a bridge and clear debris from a school. Operation Padang Assist commenced on 02 Oct 09 after the Indonesian Government accepted an offer of emergency assistance from Australia following two large earthquakes near the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. The ADF Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) was established, and is working closely with Indonesian authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs, AusAID and other agencies, to ensure the emergency relief support is delivered to where it is needed most.

Visit to Op Padang Assist October 2009

Visit to India October 2009 : The Foreign Minister visited India from Monday 12 October to Friday 16 October. It was his second visit to India as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Visit to India October 2009

Visit to Sweden October 2009 : Foreign Minister Stephen Smith visited Sweden on 8 October 2009.

Visit to Sweden October 2009

Visit to Poland October 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited Poland on 7 October 2009. This was the first visit to Poland by an Australian Foreign Minister since 2002.

Visit to Poland October 2009

Visit to Washington September 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited Washington DC on 28 September 2009 for discussions with senior members of the United States Administration.

Visit to Washington September 2009

United Nations General Assembly September 2009 : Foreign Minister Smith visited New York from 19 to 26 September 2009 to attend the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

United Nations General Assembly September 2009

Joint Press Conference September 2009 : Joint Press Conference with the Prime Minister, Mr Kim Beazley and Dr Brendan Nelson 17 September 2009

Joint Press Conference September 2009

Visit by Mozambican Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation September 2009 : On 11 September 2009, the Foreign Minister met in Perth with Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Oldemiro Baloi. It was the first official visit to Australia by a Foreign Minister of Mozambique in nearly 20 years, and Mr Baloi’s first visit to Perth as Foreign Minister.

Visit by Mozambican Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation September 2009

Meeting with Dr Pham Gia KHIEM, September 2009 :

Meeting with Dr Pham Gia KHIEM, September 2009

Visit to Brazil and Chile August 2009 :

Visit to Brazil and Chile August 2009

Pacific Islands Forum August 2009 :

Pacific Islands Forum August 2009

Launch of the Singapore-Australia Dialogue July 2009 :

Launch of the Singapore-Australia Dialogue July 2009

Visit to Thailand July 2009 : The Foreign Minister visited Thailand on 22 and 23 July to attend the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN-Australia Post Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Consultations.

Visit to Thailand July 2009

Visit to Indonesia July 2009 : The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Stephen Smith, visited Indonesia following bomb blasts at the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta. He met with his counterpart Indonesian Foreign Minister Wirajuda. 18 July, 2009

Visit to Indonesia July 2009

Visit to Malta July 2009 : The Foreign Minister visited Malta on 13 and 14 July. The visit was the first by an Australian Foreign Minister since 1992.

Visit to Malta July 2009

Visit to Malaysia July 2009 : The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Stephen Smith, visited Malaysia on 6 and 7 July to meet Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman. Mr Anifah and Mr Smith held the inaugural Australia-Malaysia Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Visit to Malaysia July 2009

Visit to New Zealand June 2009 : The Foreign Minister is visiting New Zealand on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June, 2009. In Wellington Foreign Minister Smith met with New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, for the latest round of their regular six-monthly consultations. The visit gave the ministers the opportunity to discuss key bilateral, regional and global issues as well as the strong trade and economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

Visit to New Zealand June 2009

Visit by Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation June 2009 : The Foreign Minister met with Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani, in Canberra on Wednesday 17 June.

Visit by Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation June 2009

Visit by Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation June 2009 : The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, Mrs Rosemary Museminali, visited Australia from Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 June 2009. The Australian Foreign Minister met Mrs Museminaliin Canberra on 15 June. Mr Smith had previously met Mrs Museminali in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January and at the United Nations in New York in September 2008. Mrs Museminali's visit is an important step forward for Australia's relationship with Rwanda. The relationship is young, with diplomatic relations established in 2006, and the links between the two countries are growing.

Visit by Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation June 2009

Visit by Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs June 2009 : On Friday 12 June, 2009, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith met in Perth with Mr Moses Wetang'ula, Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr Wetang'ula's visit was a significant moment in Australia's relationship with Kenya. It was Mr Wetang'ula first official visit as Foreign Minister and the first official bilateral visit to Australia by a Kenyan Foreign Minister.

Visit by Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs June 2009

The 19th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum June 2009 : The 19th Australia- Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum took place in Brisbane on Wednesday 10 June. The Foreign Minister co-chaired the Ministerial Forum with Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister, Mr Sam Abal MP. The following photographs include the official reception, hosted by Her Excellency Penny Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland, and official dinner, hosted by Mr Smith, on Tuesday 9 June 2009.

The 19th Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum June 2009

Visit to Samoa June 2009 : During the Foreign Minister's first visit to Samoa Mr Smith met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoli’ai Sailele Malielegaoi and Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister Misa Telefoni. Mr Smith discussed the impact of the global recession on Samoa and emphasised the importance of the Partnership for Development, signed by Samoa and Australia at last year’s Pacific Islands Forum. Mr Smith also met Samoa’s Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and discussed major issues affecting Samoa and the Pacific. Prime Minister Tuilaepa and Foreign Minister Smith participated in a ground breaking ceremony for the new Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Headquarters in Apia where Mr Smith announced that Australia would provide an additional $4 million for education in Samoa.

Visit to Samoa June 2009

Visit to Tonga June 2009 : This was the Foreign Minister's first visit to Tonga. Mr Smith met with Prime Minister Sevele and addressed the Tongan Cabinet. The Foreign Minister also met King Tupou V and several of Tonga’s nobles and Peoples' Representatives. While in Nuku'alofa, Mr Smith presented nine police vehicles to the Tonga Police Force as part of Australia's and New Zealand's contribution to the Tonga Police Development Program. The Foreign Minister also visited the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation and met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Dr Villiami Tangi. Australia is contributing $20 million over four years to the Pacific Non-Communicable Disease Program, and providing $525 000 to establish the Tongan Health Promotion Foundation.

Visit to Tonga June 2009

Launch of the N Series Passport May 2009 : Foreign Minister the Hon. Stephen Smith at the launch of the new N Series Passport in Canberra on 28 May 2009, together with Bob Nash, Executive Director, Australian Passport Office.

Launch of the N Series Passport May 2009

Visit by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu May 2009 : Foreign Minister The Hon. Stephen Smith met with The Hon. Edward Nipake Natapei MP, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, in Parliament House Canberra. 27 May 2009.

Visit by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu May 2009

Meeting with Madame Chen Zhili, May 2009 :

Meeting with Madame Chen Zhili, May 2009

Visit by Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, May 2009 : Africa Day: Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe, visited Australia from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May, 2009. On Africa Day (25 May) the Minister welcomed Mr Membe in a speech presented in Canberra.

Visit by Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, May 2009

Inaugural Australia-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation May 2009 : Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, and Thai Foreign Minister, Mr Kasit Piromya, at the inaugural Australia-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Perth, 8 May 2009

Inaugural Australia-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation May 2009

Visit by Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister May 2009 : Visit to Australia by Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Karel De Gucht, 6 May 2009.

Visit by Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister May 2009

Visit to Saudi Arabia May 2009 : Visit to Saudi Arabia, 2-3 May 2009

Visit to Saudi Arabia May 2009

Visit by Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone May 2009 : Visit to Australia by Japan Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone 1 May 2009

Visit by Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone May 2009

Gallipoli Commemoration, Turkey, April 2009 :

Gallipoli Commemoration, Turkey, April 2009

Friends of Democratic Pakistan and Pakistan Donors' Conference April 2009 : Friends of Democratic Pakistan and Pakistan Donors' Conference 17 April 2009

Friends of Democratic Pakistan and Pakistan Donors' Conference April 2009

Visit to Indonesia April 2009 : Third Bali Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime,15 April 2009.

Visit to Indonesia April 2009

AUSMIN, Washington April 2009 : Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, Australian Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, met in Washington D.C. on April 9, 2009 for the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

AUSMIN, Washington April 2009

Conference on Afghanistan, The Hague, March 2009. : Conference on Afghanistan, The Hague, 31 March 2009.

Conference on Afghanistan, The Hague, March 2009.

Visit by Estonian Foreign Minister, Mr Urmas Paet April, 2009 : Visit to Australia by the Estonian Foreign Minister, Mr Urmas Paet, 20 April, 2009.

Visit by Estonian Foreign Minister, Mr Urmas Paet April, 2009

Visit to China March 2009 : The Foreign Minister's visit to China from Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 March, 2009.

Visit to China March 2009

Australia-UAE Dialogue March, 2009 : Australia-UAE Dialogue 22 March, 2009.

Australia-UAE Dialogue March, 2009

Malaysian High Commissioner presents a cheque for Victorian Bushfires appeal March 2009 : The Malaysian High Commissioner Mr Salman Bin L AHMAD presents the Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Stephen Smith with a cheque of $100k for the Victorian Bushfires appeal. Canberra, 19 March 2009

Malaysian High Commissioner presents a cheque for Victorian Bushfires appeal March 2009

Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum March 2009 : Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum, Canberra, 17 March 2009.

Australia-Japan Talkback Classroom Forum March 2009

United Nations Parliamentary Association March 2009 : United Nations Parliamentary Association Inuagural meeting Canberra, 11 March 2009

United Nations Parliamentary Association March 2009

Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era, February 2009 :

Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era, February 2009

Visit by Republic of Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tonio Borg, February 2009 : Visit to Australia by Republic of Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon Dr Tonio Borg, February 2009

Visit by Republic of Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tonio Borg, February 2009

Visit to Pakistan, February 2009 :

Visit to Pakistan, February 2009

Visit by Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim, February 2009 :

Visit by Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim, February 2009

Visit by Foreign Ministers from East Timor and Portugal, February 2009 :

Visit by Foreign Ministers from East Timor and Portugal, February 2009

Visit to Ethiopia, January 2009 :

Visit to Ethiopia, January 2009

Visit to Japan, December 2008 :

Visit to Japan, December 2008

Visit to Fiji, December 2008 :

Visit to Fiji, December 2008

Visit to the UK, Belgium and Norway, November and December 2008 :

Visit to the UK, Belgium and Norway, November and December 2008

Visit to Mexico and Peru, November 2008 :

Visit to Mexico and Peru, November 2008

Second Australia-UK Ministerial meeting, Leeds, November 2008 : Second Australia-UK Ministerial meeting, Leeds, 28 November 2008.

Second Australia-UK Ministerial meeting, Leeds, November 2008

Ninth Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum, Canberra, November 2008 :

Ninth Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum, Canberra, November 2008

Visit to Cyprus, Israel, and The Palestinian Territories, October 2008 :

Visit to Cyprus, Israel, and The Palestinian Territories, October 2008

Visit to Paris and the Somme, France, October 2008 :

Visit to Paris and the Somme, France, October 2008

Visit to the Philippines, October 2008 :

Visit to the Philippines, October 2008

Visit to India, September 2008 :

Visit to India, September 2008

Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue, Canberra, August 2008 :

Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue, Canberra, August 2008

Visit to Indonesia, August 2008 :

Visit to Indonesia, August 2008

Visit by Condoleezza Rice July 2008 : Visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Perth, 24-25 July 2008

Visit by Condoleezza Rice July 2008

Visit to Singapore, July 2008 :

Visit to Singapore, July 2008

Visit to Thailand, July 2008 :

Visit to Thailand, July 2008

Visit to Vietnam, July 2008 :

Visit to Vietnam, July 2008

Visit to Fiji and Solomon Islands, July 2008 :

Visit to Fiji and Solomon Islands, July 2008

Visit to Japan, June 2008 :

Visit to Japan, June 2008

Visit to Italy and the Middle East, June 2008 :

Visit to Italy and the Middle East, June 2008

Visit to Hong Kong, Republic of Korea and Japan, May 2008 :

Visit to Hong Kong, Republic of Korea and Japan, May 2008

Visit to Solomon Islands, February 2008 :

Visit to Solomon Islands, February 2008

Visit to Papua New Guinea, April 2008 :

Visit to Papua New Guinea, April 2008

Visit to United States and Japan, Jan-Feb 2008 :

Visit to United States and Japan, Jan-Feb 2008

Visit to Dili, December 2007 :

Visit to Dili, December 2007

Visit to Indonesia, December 2007 :

Visit to Indonesia, December 2007