Your Excellency,

On behalf of my ASEAN Colleagues I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and to members of your delegation to this 6+1 Session of the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference.

A few moments ago we exchanged letters on the establishment of the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Management Committee. The establishment of the JMC is an important step forward in ASEAN New Zealand dialogue relations because the direction of the ASEAN-New Zealand Economic Cooperation Programme must be better planned, focused and managed to ensure that both sides get the maximum benefit from our collaborative efforts. In the past, there had been numerous small and unrelated projects, which although useful and with satisfying results did not lend the desired impact. Now that the JMC is in place and the areas of cooperation have been identified - the Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (TIPP) , the Inter-Institutional Linkages Programme (IILP) , the National Gas Utilization Programme and Science and 'Technology Cooperation - the JMC should begin to look at the various project proposals which are pending and also those on the table for approval, with a view to integrating them where appropriate and implementing them as early as possible. During the past year the ASEAN-New Zealand Cooperation Programme has not shown much activity and I hope that henceforth the JMC could speed up the process of project implementation again.

On TIPP, ASEAN and New Zealand have agreed that projects under bilateral components would cease when existing projects are completed. I think this is a positive development given that the overall objective of the ASEAN-New Zealand Cooperation Programme is not only to enhance ASEAN countries' skills and expertise in the various fields identified but more importantly, in the process helps to promote ASEAN unity and cohesion through the implementation of regional projects. New Zealand's individual assistance to ASEAN Member Countries could continue under its ODA but the TIPI" should necessarily focus on regional projects, consistent with the basic goal of the ASEAN-New Zealand Cooperation Programme.

I am particularly pleased that science and technology is now one of the major aspects of ASEAN- New Zealand Cooperation Programme. Perhaps New Zealand has long been known for its agricultural and farming expertise that one tends to overlook the fact that New Zealand too has substantially moved ahead in the information technology field such as computer technology. Small but efficient computer companies in New Zealand are making headway in the international market for software that are increasingly gaining wider application particularly in business and banking. Perhaps there is scope for cooperation in this new but rapidly expanding field of technology.

On trade matters however, there are still several concerns which both ASEAN and New Zealand need to address. Our cooperation on multilateral trade issues have been very close indeed, in particular within the Cairns Group and in negotiations for the conclusion of the Uruguay Round. However, bilaterally we have not been able to hasten the pace of trade flows between our two sides because impediments still exist, both in the form of tariff and non-tariff barriers. ASEAN has raised these concerns in previous meetings between the two sides. It is now hoped that as AFTA begins to be implemented this year, greater openings and opportunities would be provided for ASEAN and New Zealand to expand our trade and investment ties. The TIPP under the ASEAN-New Zealand Economic Cooperation Programme should now implement projects designed to create better trade and investment opportunities to take advantage of AFTA. ASEAN can be an important factor in New Zealand's export-led economic growth and New Zealand would benefit from improved trading relationships with ASEAN.

In this respect, while governments can create a conducive atmosphere for the private sectors to operate, much depends on the initiative of the private sectors themselves to exploit the opportunities offered. I note that the private sectors of ASEAN and New Zealand have established a strong working relationship in which, given the economic opportunities now available in Southeast Asia, joint undertakings by the ASEAN and New Zealand private sectors could very well be the basis of new business ventures in the region.


Your Excellency,

I am also pleased that ASEAN officials in Wellington have been very active lately in organising a series of talks and seminars to publicise ASEAN in New Zealand. A word of thanks and appreciation must go to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials for their assistanc to make the talks and seminars a success and especially to you, Mr. Co-Chairman, for your own participation in some of these functions. Your personal involvement in ASEAN activities organised by the ASEAN Committee in Wellington is very much appreciated. Such involvement by Ministers and senior officials in New Zealand will generate greater awareness and interest in ASEAN and hopefully will lead to more interactions between our two sides.

In this regard, ASEAN students in New Zealand have also contributed much towards enhancing ASEAN-New Zealand relations. By their presence, bringing with them the rich cultural diversities of ASEAN, they help build the bridge for better understanding between the peoples of ASEAN and New Zealand. Their contributions to ASEAN- New Zealand relations last long after their return. They occupy prominent positions in the public and private sectors and are therefore able to sustain the ASEAN-New Zealand links. They even take their children for holidays in New Zealand. ASEAN and New Zealand, therefore, have much to gain in ensuring that the flow of ASEAN students to New Zealand continues to be facilitated by the availability of relevant courses at affordable costs. I hope New Zealand's Ministry of Education has completed its review of the cost of fees in New Zealand and the availability of places in specialist training courses and that the results would be favourable to ASEAN whose fee-paying students comprise 80% of foreign students in New Zealand universities. It would serve the purpose of both sides for us to sustain this strong educational linkages. For us in ASEAN it would enable us to build a corp of trained and skilled workforce. For New Zealand, it would help towards realising her desire to mesh herself into the mainstream of the region's economic, political and social affairs, consistent with her vision of Asia 2000.


Your Excellency,

ASEAN and New Zealand have worked together for many years now under the umbrella of the ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue. We have found our interactions useful and our cooperative endeavours mutually beneficial. Given the strong bonds that we have nurtured, I am confident we will continue to enhance the substance and quality of our relations. ASEAN looks forward to another year of fruitful cooperation with New Zealand.

Thank you.