Trump-Turnbull meeting planned as soon as possible: Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is being arranged as soon as possible.

President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump Source: AP

Planning is underway for a meeting as soon as possible between new US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop says.

The foreign minister has just completed high-level talks with top Trump administration officials in Washington and told reporters in London on Thursday there was "an enormous amount of good will" in the US capital for Australia.

She said the US president and the prime minister were likely to meet at global or multi-lateral summits throughout the year but planning for a meeting was already underway.

"I'm hopeful of a bilateral meeting as soon as possible."

Ms Bishop said that in Washington she was able to meet Lieutenant-General H R McMaster just two days after he was appointed as the president's National Security Advisor.

She also met Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and said not once was the initial heated phone call between Mr Trump and Mr Turnbull mentioned.

Reports earlier this month said the call was a stormy affair and cut short, with Mr Trump criticising a deal to take migrants from Australia as "the worst ever".

"The phone call wasn't mentioned by anyone and I was delighted with the outcome of the meetings I had," Ms Bishop said.


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2 min read
Published 24 February 2017 7:22am
Updated 24 February 2017 7:42am
Source: AAP


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