The prime ministers of Finland and New Zealand have taken a swipe at the suggestion that their first face-to-face meeting in New Zealand happened because they are both young female leaders.
Finnish sanna Marin said at a joint press conference at Auckland's Government House on Wednesday morning that people may have thought they were meeting because they share a similar demographic.
I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age, according to Ardern. It is true that we have a higher proportion of men in politics because two women meet, but it is not simply because of their gender, Ardern said.
She said that the two of them focused on the responsibility they had to women in countries where they are facing dire circumstances, where we are seeing the most basic of human rights being repressed and violated.
Marin wanted to stand together over equality to make sure every woman and girl in the world will have the same rights and the same opportunities as men Marin is in New Zealand for her first official tour, marking the first visit by a Finnish prime minister. After a bilateral meeting on Wednesday morning, the two leaders affirmed their commitment to boosting trade opportunities and tackling climate change, as well as deepening ties between New Zealand and Finland.
Ardern said that our countries are aligned on incredibly important issues and we share a strong commitment to democratic values as a basis for open, tolerant, equal, and multilateralism and a rules-based order that has underpinned global peace and prosperity since 1945. The rules-based order was under pressure globally, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ardern said.
The conflict, as I am aware, is literally on Finland's doorstep, and I appreciated the prime minister's insightful perspectives on the war, and of course, the enduring impact it may have on Europe and global security. Marin said it had been her special request to visit New Zealand and she hoped her visit would bring the countries already excellent relations to the next level. Marin left New Zealand for Australia on Thursday.