WELLINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on his election victory, which has taken his Liberal Party for a third term in government.
"New Zealand and Australia have the strongest of ties and they will continue. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between our two countries in the coming years," Ardern said in a statement.
"I phoned Prime Minister Morrison this afternoon and offered him and Jenny my congratulation on his election victory in what was a close and hard-fought election," Ardern said.
"Prime Minister Morrison has an affinity to New Zealand having lived and worked here. He understands us, which is very helpful to the Trans-Tasman relationship," she said.
