WELLINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Business leaders from both sides of the Tasman on Wednesday urged the finance ministers of New Zealand and Australia to look at ways of boosting Asian tourism and investment in the two nations.
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey and New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English were both speaking at a meeting of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Wellington.
The forum wanted to see more trans-Tasman trade and investment, and more joint work between Australia and New Zealand to advance engagement with Asia, said Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly in a statement.
Implementing joint Productivity Commission recommendations, liberalizing capital flows and boosting Asian tourism were discussed at the meeting.
New Zealand and Australia had a shared interest in optimizing Asian investment and deepening relations with Asian nations, O' Reilly said.
"There are differing regulations and practices on both sides of the Tasman that if harmonized could improve trade through the wider region," he said.
A joint Australia-New Zealand visa for major events was one improvement that could boost growth in business and trade.
Hockey's visit followed the attendance in Sydney last week of New Zealand business leaders at the Leadership Group of the Business 20, a forum of business leaders from across the G20 group of the world's biggest economies.
Hockey, on his first visit to New Zealand since becoming Treasurer last year, also met with Prime Minister John Key.
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