McCully and Clinton sign Kazakhstan nuclear deal

Mrs Clinton also backed New Zealand's call for democracy in Fiji. Photo / AP

There were new leaders but old topics at the table when a New Zealand delegation travelled to the United States this week.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is in Washington DC to meet new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Overnight they signed an agreement that the two nations would work together to secure nuclear and radioactive materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons.

The US State Department said New Zealand would give about $600,000 to prevent nuclear smuggling by setting up radiation monitors on Kazakhstan's borders.

A similar agreement was signed in May 2007 under which New Zealand gave similar aid to help secure Ukraine's borders.

Mrs Clinton also backed New Zealand's call for democracy in Fiji and the demand by South Pacific leaders for elections there this year.

"We join New Zealand in encouraging Fiji's interim government to abide by the Pacific Island Forum's benchmarks and timetable to restore democracy to that country," Mrs Clinton said.

"We share a common determination that democracy must not be extinguished there."

Mrs Clinton thanked New Zealand for its contribution in Afghanistan and Mr McCully told her about the Government's review into its role in the troubled country.

"I outlined the nature of the review we are currently conducting, and promised that we would give careful consideration to our future contributions," Mr McCully said.

He told Mrs Clinton the TransPacific Partnership trade agreement "had the potential to make a significant contribution to freeing up Asia-Pacific trade".

Mr McCully also raised the issue of US approval for the sale of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Skyhawks and said he was hopeful they would be able to "resolve this item of business inherited by both of us from our predecessors".

The pair also discussed Antarctic cooperation and said it was a "very important part of the New Zealand-United States relationship".

"It was an excellent meeting," Mr McCully said.

"I came away confident that the impetus and commitment the New Zealand Government intends to bring to this important relationship will be reciprocated."

- NZPA