Your Excellency,
On behalf of my ASEAN colleagues, let me first extend a warm welcome to you and to your delegation to this 6+1 session of the ASEAN PMC. Our annual consultations which allow us the ortunity to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, have been useful in providing officials the focus and the emphasis in their dialogue meetings.By the last count, the March meeting in Wellington was the 12th in the dialogue series -- evidence of the long association between ASEAN and New Zealand.
I am told that the 12th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue was a successful meeting, not only measured by the, results of the discussions but also by the very warm ambience of friendship amongst officials. The pre-conference tour organised by your Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for officials from ASEAN and New an to interact in informally before the Dialogue meeting, contributed very much to its success.
As Country Coordinator for the last 3 years, I am pleased that Malaysia has, in some ways, contributed to enhancing ASEAN-New Zealand ties. I am appreciative to the other ASEAN Member Countries who have been very supportive of Malaysia's coordinatorship of our dialogue process.
Of course, close ASEAN-New Zealand relations is greatly facilitated by New Zealand's own conscious effort to integrate herself with her Asian neighbours. Under Asia 2000, which I am informed grew out of Your Exceliency's own idea, New Zealand is pursuing and promoting an Asia First policy. I understand that this initiative, having the broad support of the New Zealand government and people is already impacting positively on New Zealand's relations with Asia. I am also pleased to note that New Zealand considers our dialogue process a key component in her efforts to develop closer links with ASEAN.
On our part, I would like to reiterate what I have said on previous occasions that ASEAN values its dialogue relations with New Zealand and will assist New Zealand's integration into the social and economic fabric of the Asian, in particular, the Southeast Asian region.
For this reason we watch with keen interest the various deregulation and liberalization measures you have introduced in recent years and are pleased that they are now bearing fruit, as reflected in the increasingly strong performance of the New Zealand economy, whose growth rate last year was second among OECD countries. The positive impact of your strong growth, together with those of ASEAN Member Countries, can already be seen from the increase in two-way trade between ASEAN and New Zealand. We, however, note that the balance of trade continues in New Zealand's favour. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by New Zealand's assurances that many of ASEAN's concerns relating to market access are being addressed.
While trade and commerce have long been the mainstay of ASEAN-New Zealand economic interaction, new areas, in particular, investment cooperation are being increasingly attractive to both sides. The growing linkages among countries in the Asia Pacific region, encouraged by the dynamic growth in this part of the world, offer numerous investment opportunities. Apart from opportunities created by AFTA and developments in the Growth Triangles, ASEAN small and medium industries (SMIS) are looking to sharpen their competitive edge by the application of appropriate technology for which companies in Dialogue Partner countries like New Zealand can offer. Lacking their own capacity for R&D, combining ASEAN SMI's capital, market knowledge and management expertise with leading edge technology from New Zealand for example, would be an attractive proposition. Joint undertakings between ASEAN and New Zealand companies in the other countries in Southeast Asia and in China is another form of cooperation which the two private sectors should look into. I am informed that the report on the regional investment study being undertaken by a New Zealand consultant under the Trade and Investment Promotion Programme to identify mutually beneficial areas of investment, is already completed. The report could be the basis to further strengthen ASEAN-New Zealand investment cooperation.
Your Excellency,
The successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round negotiations should open the door for more equitable global trade, long term economic growth and increase employment. The immediate priority is of course the early ratification of the Final Act and the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In this regard, major trading nations, in particular, must demonstrate their firm commitment to implemehting the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations without further delay.
But just as we look forward to trading in a freer environment, a new obstacle is being placed before us. This is the attempt by some developed countries to link social clauses to international trade. We in ASEAN are concerned with such attempts to push commercial issues into the trade agenda. On this issue, we are heartened that New Zealand shares our concern. As a member of the OECD, New Zealand can help impress upon the developed countries the relevance of considering these social and Tabour issues in the right perspective, taking into account the pace of development, standard of living and social norms in the developing countries.
Your Excellency,
As this is the last time we will be co-chairing the 6+1 session, I wish to record my appreciation to you for your contribution to ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations which, during the last 3 years, Malaysia was privileged to coordinate on ASEAN's behalf. Your personal interest and support for the various ASEAN activities, especially those organised by the ASEAN High Commissioners and Ambassadors in Wellington, has elevated ASEAN's profile in New Zealand. I am sure ASEAN-New Zealand relations, which is already on very strong foundation, will be further strengthened when the Philippines next assume the country coordinatorship.
Thank you.
