The two met Sunday night in private talks at Kirribilli House, the official prime ministerial residence in Sydney, and were later joined by Treasurer Wayne Swan and officials.
Yesterday, Key met Rudd, senior cabinet ministers and business leaders. This was the third meeting for the two prime ministers after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru and the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Papua New Guinea.
Tackling the economic crisis remains the key priority.
Australia is New Zealand’s biggest market, worth almost $10 billion a year, and its largest source of merchandise exports.
New Zealand is Australia’s sixth-largest export market, with the corporate health of both bound by total two-way investment of $122 billion.
“Our relationship with Australia is a vitally important one,” Key said.
Their agenda focused on serious issues, with implications — some sensitive — for both countries.
New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English and Defense Minister Wayne Mapp have already crossed the Tasman to meet their Australian counterparts, covering much of the ground that the two prime ministers will discuss.
Although their talks were overshadowed by the economic crisis, Key and Rudd also discussed developments and further cooperation in the immediate region — where both countries are engaged in the Solomons and East Timor — and the wider Asia-Pacific.
