Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said on Monday that the partnership between Austria and New Zealand should be further expanded. After the talks with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully in Vienna on Monday, Spindelegger noted that the bilateral relations between Austria and New Zealand are excellent. 'Austrian companies are the main investors in the energy sector and the leading oil producers,' he said. However, there would still be large potential in the cooperation in the areas of economic, cultural and scientific, the minister said in a press release from the Austrian Foreign Ministry. He pointed out that despite the great geographical distance New Zealand was traditionally a close partner to EU. 'Europe wants to become further involved in political and economical areas in the South Pacific region, and so contribute to the greater stability and economic development in the region,' he said. 