1. On the whole, relations between ASEAN and New Zealand are satisfactory. Both sides have expressed their satisfaction at the continued cooperation that exists between them, both at the international fora as well as on bilateral basis. With the aim of enhancing future relations, at the 11th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held in Langkawi in June 1992, the two sides agreed to chart a new direction for ASEAN-New Zealand relations focussing on cooperative efforts in building a partnership that has lasting "and tangible results beneficial to both parties.
   
2. ASEAN welcomed the encouraging developments in trade relations as indicated by the steady increase of ASEAN exports to New Zealand during the past years. However, the balance of trace continued to be in favour of New Zealand. ASEAN, therefore, hoped that New Zealand would continue to improve its market access for- ASEAN products and address ASEAN's concern with regard to the New Zealand GSP review, anti-dumping/countervailing duty legislation, ANZCERTA and the Uruguay Round of MTN/Cairns Group.
   
3. ASEAN noted the assurances made by the Minister of External relations and Trade of New Zealand during the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences in Kuala Lumpur, July 1991 that ASEAN adds a special dimension to the New Zealand's long association with this part of the world and that there has been no change in New Zealand's policy of placing the highest emphasis on its relations with ASEAN.
   
4. The ASEAN-New Zealand Trade and Investment Programme (TIPP) got under way in March 1991 when eighteen ASEAN nationals participated in a food production/processing technology tour of New Zealand. Two ASEAN member countries have initiated investment promotion programmes with New Zealand. The ASEAN-New Zealand TIPP is expected to move into the secondary phase in the months ahead. ASEAN exporters and investment missions to New Zealand, visits by business journalists to ASEAN and other follow-up activities will result in some increase in the rate of TIPP implementation and expenditure.
   
5. The implementation of the five projects under the Inter-institutional Linkages Programme was satisfactory, However, during the initial stages of the running of the IILP, there were problems in the delay of the approving process of the annual activities and in the actual disbursement of funds. ASEAN noted with much interest the simplification of the management procedure, as reflected in the Revised Operational Guidelines of 28 February 1992, including the reporting of the projects.
   
6. In addition to the implementation of the approved projects, New Zealand reactivated the Gas Engineering Project, approved earlier, but was put on the "overplanning" category, due to lack of funds. A workshop to prepare the project document was successfully held in Auckland, August 1991. By April 1992 ASEAN had already finalised the consolidated ASEAN project on the Utilisation of Natural Gas for Natural Gas Vehicle.
   
7. In the context of enhancing indigenous scientific and technological activities in ASEAN countries, New Zealand has pledged an annual cash contribution to the ASEAN Science Fund amounting to NZ$ 100,000 for three consecutive years beginning in 1990. New Zealand has also contributed NZ$ 50,000 each for the Fourth ASEAN Food Conference and the Third Science and Technology Week to be held in Singapore in September 1992.
   
8. On the implementation of projects, the two sides agreed at the recent ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue to establish a Joint Management Committee (JMC) which would monitor and review the whole spectrum of ASEAN-New Zealand relations. This JMC, which should meet annually, would be established when an MOU/Exchange of Letters is concluded between ASEAN and New Zealand.

For more information, please refer to the project details