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Joint Press Release of the Fifth ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue
Manila, 26-27 March 1981 |
1. The Fifth ASEAN-NEW Zealand Dialogue between the ASEAN Directors-General and officials of the New Zealand Government was held in Manila on 26-27 March 1981.
2. The New Zealand delegation was headed by Mr. M. J. C. Templeton, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The ASEAN delegations were headed by H.E. Atmono Suryo, Director-General, ASEAN-Indonesia; H.E. Yusof Hitam, Director-General, ASEAN-Malaysia; H.E. Sime D. Hidalgo, Director-General, ASEAN-Philippines; H.E. Lee Chiong Giam, Director, Regional and Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore and H.E. Vudhi Chuchom, Director-General, ASEAN-Thailand. H.E. Narciso G. Reyes, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat was also present. Mr. Lee Chiong Giam, leader of the Singapore delegation was the ASEAN spokesman.
3. The Philippine Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Carlos P. Romulo, opened the meeting. He was happy with the growing momentum of ASEAN-NEW Zealand relations. ASEAN countries value highly New Zealands assurance of continuing support for the work of ASEAN. It was a matter of record, the Minister said, that New Zealand has closely cooperated with ASEAN in the difficult task of ensuring peace and stability in the region.
4. The Meeting reviewed ASEAN developments and developments in ASEAN-New Zealand relations in the fields of economic and development cooperation since the fourth dialogue in September 1979. Delegations welcomed the continuing development of these relations along sound and constructive lines. They noted that ties had bee. strengthened during the review period through such Ministerial meetings between the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Right Hon. B. E. Talboys, and ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur in June 1980 and through the growing number of ASEAN Ministers visiting New Zealand and seeing for themselves the potential for further cooperation and consultation.
5. Ways of strengthening the economic relationships to the mutual benefit of all involved were discussed, including the desirability of fostering more joint or cooperative ventures on the commercial level and of promoting the two-way flow of information and technology.
6. The Meeting discussed the expansion of existing cooperation in the energy sector. It was noted that ASEAN countries and New Zealand faced a comm.. problem in endeavouring to reduce the dependence on oil as a source of energy. The long term approach in both New Zealand and the ASEAN countries is directed towards the development of alternative energy resources, conventional and non-conventional. ASEAN presented some specific proposals for cooperation in non-conventional energy development. Welcoming the proposals, New Zealand officials undertook to study them further and expressed particular interest in cooperating in some aspects of bio-energy conversion, geothermal energy training and energy inventory and assessment work and in cooperating in the field of micro hydro energy development. They noted that New Zealand was developing expertise in such fields as seismic engineering for a range of energy plants, electrical reticulation and natural gas technology. It was suggested that the next step might be the undertaking of surveys to ensure that expertise available in both the ASEAN countries and New Zealand was matched with the requirements for expertise. it as felt that in this sector particularly two-way exchanges were both appropriate and desirable.
7. The Meeting also reviewed on-going projects in the ASEAN development assistance programme initiated by New Zealand in 1975. ASEAN looked forward to receiving 1. mid-year the revised and updated version of the survey on end-uses of timber. it was confirmed that ASEAN and New Zealand Veterinary Directors-General would meet in May 1981 to discuss current projects and to review progress under the Livestock Development programme. The Meeting noted with satisfaction the impressive progress achieved in establishing. trial plots and training programmes at the ASEAN reforestation programme located at Tarlac in the Philippines and agreed that a major review of progress should be undertaken i. 1981, probably in August. ASEAN delegations welcomed New Zealand’s participation in the dairy sector in ASEAN countries through contributions to the institute Haiwan in Kluang, Malaysia, in the form of provision of expertise, equipment and teaching materials. They noted that a study would shortly be undertaken to establish how the institute might most usefully help meet the training requirements of the region. Finally, the New Zealand delegation announced a decision in principle to assist in the establishment of an ASEAN Seed Technology Centre at Khon Kaen University in Thailand. Delegations welcomed the setting up of what would be the first Thailand-based ASEAN-New Zealand project.
8. The Meeting welcomed the initiatives of the ASEAN chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI) and the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce to hold their inaugural meeting in Singapore on 29-30 April 1981 to establish link to promote relations between. New Zealand and ASEAN at the private sector levels. A useful informal exchange of views on trade matters was also held.
9. It was agreed that the next dialogue would be held in New Zealand.
10. The Meeting expressed its creep appreciation for the warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements accorded by the Government and people of the Philippines and ASEAN-Philippines.
11. The Meeting was held in the spirit of friendship and cordiality.
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