Prime Minister John Key will attend the second Nuclear Security Summit in South Korea alongside about 54 other country leaders next week.
The summit was the initiative of United States President Barack Obama, who is also expected to attend next week, and is aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear materials being used for terrorism.
Mr Key said it was an important initiative and New Zealand was committed to playing its part. The summit was first held in Washington in 2010 and New Zealand was one of 53 states invited.
Mr Key said he would also meet with South Korea President Lee Myung-bak while in Seoul and one of his aims was to progress negotiations for a free trade agreement with Korea which is New Zealand's fifth largest trading partner.
He would also have official meetings with other leaders including United Kingdom deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Thailand and Vietnam.
