Vice President Biden met with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop of Australia today at the White House.  The Vice President underscored the strength of the alliance and friendship between the United States and Australia.  The Vice President and the Foreign Minister discussed a range of regional and global challenges, including security challenges in the Asia-Pacific and the importance of continued close collaboration in the region.  The Vice President and the Foreign Minister also discussed the importance of bringing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations to a close as quickly as possible.