Following the G20 Summit in Brisbane the Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled on to Sydney. The Federal Chancellor spoke with Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott about expanding trade relations and other bilateral investments.

Joint working group

In future, a joint working group will work on strengthening German-Australian relations. "Since we know that a good thing can always be further improved, Prime Minister Abbott and I have decided to establish a bilateral group of advisers to provide further stimulus for political, economic and social cooperation", Merkel said, explaining the project in her address at the "Lowy Institute for International Policy".

Abbott stressed that both countries are interested in the free trade agenda. He said that this subject was discussed at the G20 Summit in Brisbane, too. With regard to implementation of the free trade agreement TTIP the Federal Chancellor warned: "The world is not waiting for Europe and us, rather it is acting in terms of free trade." Wortes."

Equal values - friendly relations

For the Federal Chancellor, the good strategic partnership between the two countries shows "that we actually share the same values and enjoy very good and friendly bilateral relations." We have a similar way of assessing international challenges and so the battle against ISIS was a major focus of the talks, she said. Also discussed were the situation in Russia and developments in China and in Japan, she added.

Merkel explained that she also found it exciting to see Asian countries developing very dynamically.

Learning from the past

At the "Lowy Institute for International Policy" in Sydney the Federal Chancellor spoke about European and foreign policy challenges. With regard to the Australian Remembrance Day ANZAC-AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS Day Merkel remembered the First World War. She stated: "In the battles against Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, ten thousands of Australians died and more than 130,000 were wounded in the Dardanelles and on the Western Front."

With the "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps" (ANZAC-AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS) Australia and New Zealand took part in both world wars on behalf of the British Empire. The Battle of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 is still remembered today on "ANZAC-AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS Day". Following her address at the Lowy Institute Merkel laid a wreath at the "ANZAC-AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS War Memorial".

Looking back to the period before 1914 what is apparent more than anything is the voicelessness of the political elite of European states and the total failure of diplomacy, said Merkel. "What happened at that time is something we cannot make undone. But we can and I say we must learn the right lessons from it", said Merkel. What is crucial here, she added, is that Germany and Europe strived for dialogue and peaceful solutions in 2014.

Australia: Partner of Germany and Europe

"Efforts to boost competitive strength, growth and employment are also always efforts to ensure the lasting success of the European economic and social model, which unites economic success with social and also ecological responsibility", explained Merkel. Europe is closely linked with Asia in this respect.
"For Germany and Europe it is important to know that with Australia we have a partner in the Asia-Pacific Region with the same values as us: universal human rights, basic rights and rights of freedom, democracy and the rule of law", explained the Federal Chancellor. "Let us use our closeness, let us use our partnership, let us use our connectedness for the benefit of our nations and people in the future, too."