Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has met with Ivanka Trump and hopes to work with the daughter of, and senior adviser to, US President Donald Trump on regional programs to promote women's rights and to end modern slavery.
The pair met in New York where Ms Bishop is attending the annual General Assembly of the United Nations.
Ms Bishop described Ms Trump as "charming, delightful, very intelligent [and] committed".
"I'm very pleased to get to know her and be part of opportunities her foundation and the US administration more generally may have in working with Australia on these issues of ending modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking but also more positive areas like promoting female entrepreneurship," Ms Bishop told reporters on Wednesday.
With @IvankaTrump discussing #education #genderequality initiatives & support for women entrepreneurs#NYCpic.twitter.com/xCNFCk5pn1??? Julie Bishop (@JulieBishopMP) September 20, 2017
Ms Bishop and Ms Trump originally met at the UN on Tuesday at events to combat human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery. They then decided to follow up with a sit-down meeting on Wednesday to gauge if there were opportunities for Australia to partner with Ms Trump and her foundation, in Australia and the region, on "matters involving the empowerment of women and girls".
"Australia's aid program focuses very much on women and girls. They make up half the population. They are an invaluable resource to drive economic growth and yet there are many barriers in the way. Ivanka Trump is also very keen to work with us on promoting female entrepreneurship and I hope that we'll be able to undertake a number of initiatives with her in that regard."
- with AAP
