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Source: ONE News -
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Prime Minister John Key has had a surprise meeting with United States President Barack Obama at a lunch at the United Nations.
The pair were scheduled to meet for the first time at a US Presidential reception on Thursday evening but Obama approached the Prime Minister unexpectedly at a lunch hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
The pair chatted for two or three minutes.
Obama asked Key how he was enjoying the UN. The pair exchanged pleasantries before the US president moved on.
Key will have another chance to meet the US leader at the evening reception.
Security will be incredibly tight as most of 166 world leaders attending the UN General Assembly will attend.
New York Police Department are setting up a 10 block "freeze zone" around the Metropolitan Museum of Art where the function is being held.
The closest media can approach is four blocks.
On Thursday morning Key told reporters he had bought a new purple tie for the big moment.
He only expected a quick greeting rather than what is known in diplomatic circles as a pull aside where more substantive issues could be discussed.
"I don't have high expectations. I mean there's 166 leaders here, the pressure on his time is unbelievable and realistically I've been of the view there will be more time at APEC and I think that's the way the Americans would see it as well."
Key said he had been impressed by Obama's speeches at the UN and Clinton Global Initiative over the past two days.
"You've got to say the guy is good."
High level dignitaries
The meeting comes on top of the high-level dignitaries Key talked to on Wednesday.
He met Ban, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark who heads the UNDP, former US President Bill Clinton and other foreign leaders.
After talks with Ban, Key said the US has indicated it would be prepared to financially back a New Zealand initiative to ramp up research into agricultural emissions.
Key used the 15-minute meeting with the UN head to push New Zealand's proposal for a global alliance focusing on finding ways to reduce agricultural emissions and said the US and India are interested in the scheme.
The initiative would see a world-wide virtual network set up for climate change research into agriculture and food production.
"We've already had initial indications from India and the United States that they will be prepared to join us," Key told reporters.
"At this point we are just trying to build a constituency for it, indications we've had from the United States is they are prepared to put in quite a lot of money."
Ban wants countries to commit a quarter of a trillion dollars a year to help developing countries. Key would not commit to helping fund that but, said the New Zealand initiative will be a useful contribution.
Key also met former US President Bill Clinton for 45 minutes.
"He was engaging, he was entertaining," Key said.
Topics ranged from Afghanistan, climate change, economic growth, and welfare reform.
Key assured him New Zealand will play its part.
"He was quite interested in what we were doing in our energy area," geothermal for example.
He talked fondly of New Zealand and former Prime Ministers he met and said he would like to visit again.
