WELLINGTON - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Friday he will be gauging concerns over the international economy when he attends the G20 Leaders Summit as a guest of the host country Australia this weekend.
Key said Finance Minister Bill English had also been invited to the G20 summit involving finance ministers from the G20 nations.
"This year's G20 will cover a range of global economic issues, notably strengthening growth and job creation and building global economic resilience. These themes fit New Zealand's own economic priorities," Key said in a statement.
Fourteen of New Zealand's top 20 bilateral trading partners were among the G20 economies, which made up 85 percent of global economic activity and 75 percent of global trade.
"I intend to use my participation in the Leaders Summit to get a sense of global leaders' economic concerns and how they are responding to these challenges," said Key.
New Zealand is not a formal member of the G20 grouping because of its size, but has been involved in a full year of engagements culminating in the final Brisbane meeting as an invited guest of Australia.
Key said he would engage bilaterally with counterparts from the G20 as well as attending all the main leaders events.
Key would depart for Brisbane on Saturday and return on Sunday.