meets in New York

PUBLISHED: 26 JAN 2015 13:40:38 | UPDATED: 27 JAN 2015 06:15:34 JOHN KEHOE Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has capped off a series of high-level political and business meetings in the United States by dropping in on media mogul Rupert Murdoch in New York.

Ms Bishop spent the past few days trying to woo US investors to and catching up with successful Australian entrepreneurs based in the world’s financial capital.

Mr Murdoch, the influential executive chairman of News Corp and one of Australia’s most successful business exports, has become a regular fixture in the diaries of visiting Australian political leaders.

Prime Minister , Treasurer and Trade and Investment Minister are among the coterie of senior members to have dined with Mr Murdoch over the past year.

For any ambitious politician, maintaining good relations with the owner of major mastheads including,, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph and ’s is considered almost binding.

Ms Bishop, deputy leader of the , met with Mr Murdoch over the weekend.

“Whether it’s the guy running the surf fashion design shop in Soho or Rupert Murdoch, I’m seeking to meet Australians who are important figures in New York,” Ms Bishop said in New York on Friday.

She also met with gaming mogul James Packer, billionaire businessman and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and had dinner with a group of young Australian New Yorkers hosted by Australia’s consul-general in New York, . ‘COHESIVE TEAM’

Amid media reports back home of disgruntled backbenchers privately criticising the leadership of Mr Abbott, Ms Bishop declined to comment on domestic politics, saying she would adopt the practice of past foreign ministers and not talk about it while overseas.

“I focus on what I’m doing as Foreign Minister of Australia,” said Ms Bishop, who some conservatives are touting as a potential future leader if Mr Abbott’s poor polling persists longer term. Pressed, she added: “We have a number of - challenges ahead of us and, as a united and cohesive team, we will be able to meet those challenges.”

In a speech to a business audience on Friday, Ms Bishop promoted Australia as a “launch pad” for US companies to do business in Asia.

“Australia has a huge advantage in working with Asia, as our working days align,” Ms Bishop said.

“Asia will continue to be a key driver of global growth with burgeoning demand from its middle class growing from 500 million potential consumers today to 3.2 billion by 2030.”

Earlier last week, Ms Bishop held discussions in Washington with US Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State , President Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice and heads of the intelligence agencies.

The discussions focused on the threat of terrorism, foreign fighters in the Middle East, the war against Islamic State in Iraq and Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations.

To promote Australia Day, the Foreign Minister and star Australian actor Hugh Jackman illuminated a model of the Empire State Building, which was to be lit in green and gold on Australia’s national holiday.