This is the fifth time I have been honoured to attend the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference. This year is a significant one in the history of ASEAN: Vietnam has been welcomed as a member. It is also significant for our own relationship with the association: 1995 is the twentieth anniversary of New Zealand's ASEAN dialogue partnership. This year our new dialogue partner is Vietnam, and we welcome this opportunity to get to know ASEAN's newest member and to work with Vietnam in ASEAN's processes. Perhaps this is a suitable time to review for new and old members of ASEAN, the history of New Zealand's relationship with this extraordinarily successful Organisation.

New Zealand with Australia was one of the first two ASEAN dialogue partner. In l977 our then Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt.Hon.Brian Talboys spoke of the importance of the ASEAN-New Zealand relationship in the following terms :

"New Zealand will do everything it can to move closer to ASEAN - not only because of our need to expand trade with the ASEAN countries, but also because we share ASEAN's aims of achieving peace and stability in Southeast Asia through economic and social advancement".

Our approach has not changed, but in 1977 who could have foreseen ASEAN's impressive success in achieving peace and stability throughout the region, let alone such high levels of economic growth and social advancement ? This year's ASEAN meetings mark the formal accession to membership of Vietnam -a landmark both for ASEAN and for Vietnam. ASEAN's new member is a populous and regionally influential country which will bring new weight to the grouping. I am delighted that this has happened in the same month as New Zealand's first Resident Ambassador takes up his assignment in Hanoi, and just a matter of days after we were honoured to,receive in New Zealand, His Excellency Mr. Do Muoi, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The relationship between New Zealand and ASEAN is in excellent shape. We appreciate the close association we have formed with all members and the ease with which we are able to discuss a wide range of issues.

Over the years our bilateral relationships have mature, reflecting the burgeoning of your economies and international profiles, and changes in New Zealand's economy and orientation.

Starting from links based largely on defence and development cooperation, we have extended our ties to many areas of endeavour. Most dramatic has been the change in our trade and economic relations.

New Zealand's reorientation has moved us from a primary focus on Europe to one where around 35% of our trade is now with the Asian region. Over recent years our exports to ASEAN have been growing much faster than our exports overall (an increase of 60% between 1989 and 1994, compared with an increase overall of around 30%). And we are buying more from you. ASEAN exports to New Zealand have increased by 82.5% from 1989 to 1993, compared with about 20% for the world as a whole. In 1994 five of New Zealand's top twenty export markets were in Southeast Asia: 6.8% of exports of NZ$ 1.345 billion went to the ASEAN countries.

But there is no room for complacency. One of the challenges of achieving good results is keeping up the momentum. We need constantly to look for new ways in which to develop our joint economic activities to sustain the high levels of growth we have seen of late.

Our economic relationship is based on much more than trade in goods. Increasingly, New Zealand firms are working with businesses in the region on joint projects, sometimes in third countries. Investors from ASEAN are taking a larger stake in the New Zealand economy. There is significant investment in New Zealand's tourism industry from ASEAN countries particularly Singapore and Malaysia.

More and more tourists are travelling in both directions - In 1994, 239,000 tourists from Asia visited New Zealand - a 41% increase on 1993. 75,000 of these were from the ASEAN countries.

We have had along history of association through education. Last year there were 3000 students from Southeast Asia at New Zealand schools and universities.

It is through personal contact at all levels that our societies will grow in greater understanding and will be able to maximise the opportunities that exist for mutual advancement.

Business people, students and visitors are very welcome in New Zealand. People moving to New Zealand to settle permanently are also enriching our society. More and more New Zealanders are exploring the diverse cultural experiences that your region has to offer.

Last year we are launched the Asia 2000 Foundation aimed at enhancing and enriching New Zealanders' appreciation of Asia.

We have also enjoyed close contact at the political level. Prime Minister Jim Bolger visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in May last year and attended the APEC leaders' meeting at Bogor last November. This year we have been pleased to play host to visits to New Zealand from HM the Sultan of Brunei and H.E. Do Muoi, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam and President Ramos of the Philippines will be visiting New Zealand this month. We have also been pleased to welcome a wide range of other political figures military representatives and officials in the course of the last year.

We remain committed to maintaining our ASEAN regional ODA Programme.

Internationally we have worked closely with countries of ASEAN. The outcome of the Uruguay Round is something we can view with some satisfaction. It forms the basis for freer trade both within the region and throughout the world. New Zealand appreciated the opportunity to work with many of our ASEAN friends in the Cairns Group to help bring about this result.

Throughout our term on the Security Council, New Zealand has sought to keep in close touch with our regional friends who did so much to help us secure the seat. Our performance in the Council has been enhanced by the dialogue we have enjoyed with regional partners. Our association in APEC is an especially important element of our Asia/Pacific strategy.

We have been pleased to see the contacts that have been made ecently between the secretaries of the South Pacific Forum and ASEAN. We believe that the two organisations have much to gain from such cooperation.

This year New Zealand at government and business levels, hosts a number of important international conferences most of which have a strong Asian emphasis. In April the travel industry's Pacific and Asia Travel Association met in Auckland. In May was the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank. The Pacific Basin Economic Council, bringing together business leaders and politicians also took place in May. In November this year the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will be held in Auckland and we will be looking forward to welcoming Heads of Government from those ASEAN countries which are also Commonwealth members to that very high-level meeting.

You will all be aware of the rigorous economic restructuring that has taken place in NewZealand over the last several years. Our firm approach has paid off. We are now in the position of being able to retire debt, and can look forward to large surpluses.

Growth predictions are strong, and the level of business confidence is high. New Zealand is now more than ever before a lean, efficient and cost- effective place to do business. We are competitive and untrammelled by regulations. Our open economy admits 90% of all imports duty free and there is no import licensing.

We and you are now well-placed to benefit from each other's economic success. As our business activities grow closer, I hope we can examine ways to extend our cooperation with ASEAN.

Your senior economic officials have expressed interest in consultative links with dialogue partners.

This appears to be a particularly appropriate area for development of contacts and one which I hope can be explored further.

My Prime Minister has indicated New Zealand's views on the possibility of closerties between CER and AFTA. This is something I should very much like to hear your thoughts on. We would be happy to take the discussion further when ASEAN feels it wants to proceed.

New Zealand has appreciated very much the close and friendly affiliation it has built up over the years with its dialogue partners. We are about to change partners from the Philippines to Vietnam. Our profitable partnership with the Philippines has been too short, but I look forward to getting to know Foreign Secretary Siazon when he visits New Zealand with President Ramos shortly. I look forward with pleasure and confidence to forming a similar working relationship with Vietnam and with Foreign Minister Cam. This new dialogue relationship will be particularly valued by us in the year we open our Embassy in Hanoi.

Through our partnership I am sure we will enhance and sustain the splendid relationship that exists between ASEAN and New Zealand.