Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be meeting with you once again today, at this, the fourth Post Ministerial Conference I have attended. We come together as old friends for what consider one of our most valuable annual opportunities for dialogue.

We have had a most useful series of meetings over the last two days. The first ASEAN Regional Forum was a very important milestone in the history of the region, And once again we have had a stimulating and lively discussion in the 6+7 meeting. The growing agenda of that meeting is evidence of the increasing range of subjects in which we all share an interest.

New Zealand's relationship with the countries of ASEAN is well-established and multifaceted. Our links with ASEAN go back twenty years to the time you invited us, with Australia, to be your first Dialogue Partners.

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

Over the years our bilateral relationships have matured, 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 34% 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 53% between 1987 and 1993, compared with an increase overall of around 30%). And we are buying more from you. The increase of imports from ASEAN countries in the 1990's has been 55% compared with about 20% for the world as a whole.

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.

More and more tourists are travelling in both directions - in 1993 tourists from ASEAN countries were up 36% on the previous year.

We have had a long history of association through education. In 1993 over 1300 students from ASEAN countries were studying in New Zealand tertiary institutions. A further 500 were attending New Zealand secondary schools. Latest indications are that these numbers have further increased this year.

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 vety 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.

It is a personal pleasure to me that this year we are launching a new 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 and had a wide range of valuable discussions. In recent months we have been pleased to play host to visits to New Zealand from Foreign Minister Prasong and Commerce Minister Uthai of Thailand, and Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore. 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.

It was our very great pleasure to host the ASEAN officials' dialogue in March, and to have ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh here at the same time. The wide-ranging discussion gave valuable impetus to our relationship. In November last year the first meeting of the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Management Committee met to discuss the management of the ASEAN Regional ODA Programme. Useful discussion was held on the ways to ensure that the Programme is a focussed and streamlined one. New Zealand is committed to maintaining its contribution to this 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 recently between the secretariats of the South Pacific Forum and ASEAN. We believe that the two organisations have much to gain from such cooperation.

In 1995, 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 meets in Auckland. And in May we host the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank. The Pacific Basin Economic Council, bringing together business leaders and politicians, will also take place in May. Later in the 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.

Last month my colleague, the Minister of Finance, was able to announce a budget surplus for the first time in two decades.

This is the direct result of the rigorous restructuring that we have subjected ourselves to over the last few years. It is a clear sign that firm approach has paid off. We are now in the position of being able to retire debt, and can look forward to even larger surpluses in the next few years.

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 closer ties between CER and AFTA. This is something I should like 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 Malaysia to the Philippines. Our partnership with Malaysia has been a fruitful one, and I have greatly enjoyed my own association with Datuk Abdullah Badawi and valued his personal interest in our exchanges. I look forward, with confidence, to forming a similar working relationship with the Philippines and with Foreign Minister Romulo.

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