05 May 2017

News Story: Turnbull, Trump "don't have to be best friends" in New York meeting - Aussie FM

CANBERRA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and U.S. President Donald Trump "don't have to be best friends" when discussing regional issues in New York.

Speaking at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday morning, Bishop said January's infamous phone call between the two leaders which Trump described as his "worst of the day" after Turnbull informed the president of a deal for the United States to take Australian refugees.

She said the leaders did not necessarily need to get along in order to strengthen ties between the two nations but it was likely that they would have "a lot in common".

"They don't have to be best friends, but of course they will be gracious toward each other," Bishop said ahead of Turnbull's arrival in New York on Thursday.

"(But) I have no doubt that the prime minister and President Trump will find a lot in common, I'm sure they'll get along well."

Read the full story at Xinhua