Asia link ‘developing’

Press, 17 July 1980, Page 9

Asia link ‘developing’

PA Wellington Asia is becoming increasingly important to New Zealand, says the annual report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tabled in Parliament. It noted that several Asian countries, including Japan and members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N.), have “registered significant increases in economic growth. Their importance as markets for New Zealand continues to increase.” The report said this was in spite of the sharp increases in oil prices, although it also said that

the uncertainty of energy supplies might have a more marked effect. New Zealand, =aid the report, had promised to do what it could to encourage moderation and restraint over the Vietnamese invasion of Kampuchea. With 90 other countries, New Zealand voted in support of the A.S.E.A.N.sponsorcd resolution adopted in November by the United Nations General Assembly which called for the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces, and for a political settlement based on self-determina-tion. New Zealand was continuing to talk with

friendly countries on ways of “giving practical effect to this resolution,” ahd was continuing to recognise the Government of Democratic Kampuchea. The New Zealand Government had given more than $600,000 to international relief, programmes for Indo-China. Another $2 million had been collected by the public for refugees. So far 1500 refugees had been accepted for resettlement and more were being considered, said the re- 1 port. Japan was one of New Zealand’s three main trading partners and New Zealand exports to her climbed to $614 million during 1979. New Zealand was continuing to ask

Japan to liberalise access for agricultural produce.

After Japan announced its proposal to expand cooperation among Pacific nations, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said New Zealand would be willing to take part in talks;

“New Zealand considers that if the Pacific community concept is to proceed it must attract the support of A.S.E.A.N. countries and take into account all the interests of the small developing countries of the South Pacific,” said the report. The report noted that the value of New Zealand exports to China increased to $BB million in 1979.