President Halonen to visit Australia and New Zealand

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press Release 23 January 2007

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi are to make state visits to Australia on February 13-17 and New Zealand on February 18-21, 2007.

In Australia President Halonen will meet Prime Minister John Howard and Governor General Michael Jefferey and give a lecture at the Europe Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra. The programme will also include a visit to Sydney and to Uluru, where President Halonen will be introduced to Australia’s Aboriginal culture.

In New Zealand President Halonen will visit Auckland and Wellington. She will have talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark and meet Governor General Anand Satyanand and other national leaders.

Accompanying President Halonen will be a delegation of Finnish innovation experts led by Professor Raimo Väyrynen, President of the Academy of Finland. Round table discussions on innovation will be held in both countries, and the aim is also to pass on experiences of each country’s science and technology policy and to forge contacts with a view to future cooperation.