The United States and New Zealand have ended a 25-year rift with the signing Thursday of a broad pact calling for agreement on issues ranging from counter-terrorism to climate change.
The United States was represented at the signing by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is on a two-week Asia-Pacific tour to showcase America's renewed commitment to the region.
The agreement, called the "Wellington Declaration," establishes a "strategic partnership" that also provides for cooperation on natural disasters, nuclear non-proliferation and trans-national crime. Clinton said the countries also want to enhance their military cooperation.
The agreement effectively ends an estrangement that began in 1985 when New Zealand declared itself a nuclear-free state and banned visits by U.S. warships.
The United States, which refuses to say whether its ships are carrying nuclear weapons, responded by dissolving a three-way security alliance that also included Australia.
Clinton departs New Zealand on Saturday for Australia, the last stop on her seven-nation tour of Asia.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
