Our Future with Asia

Our Asia strategy

New Zealand has to accelerate the tempo of its relationships with Asia, politically, economically and socially. The Government is committed to working for the best possible relationships with Asia, consistent with advancing New Zealand’s interests.

Better integrating ourselves into an integrating region

• The New Zealand Government supports regional integration in Asia; it is a big opportunity in every sense, including for our own economic transformation and for linking New Zealand’s growth to the growth of the Asian economies. New Zealand will engage closely with regional integration efforts.
• The Government will sustain its strong commitment to leadership diplomacy and top-level engagement with Asia. New Zealand’s official engagement will be co-ordinated effectively across government.
• The Government will ensure that enough attention is paid to China and India as rising powers, while reinvigorating relationships with our traditional partners in North and Southeast Asia. Indonesia requires more attention from us.
• Because ASEAN continues to play a key role in Asia’s integration, in the East Asia Summit process and in the future of an Asian community, New Zealand will deepen its relationship with the organisation itself and with its key members, both through regional processes and bilateral connections.

Being a good neighbour

• New Zealand is committed to being a good neighbour in the wider neighbourhood of Asia. A safe and stable neighbourhood benefits us all.
• Strengthening partnerships in Asia for poverty elimination will be a major focus (after the Pacific) of the Government’s offi cial development assistance. The Government also remains committed to using ODA for capacity-building work and technical assistance undertaken by government and non-government organisations in New Zealand with Asian partners.
• Our ODA to Asia has been increased in 2007, with priority being given to Viet Nam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Timor-Leste, as well as to the trade and development programme for Asia. Additional ODA to Asia will also be channelled through our funding of regional agencies, nonbilateral NGOs and humanitarian programmes, bringing our total commitment to NZ$55 million.
• New Zealand’s defence and security commitments are fundamental to partnerships in Asia and we will maintain these while developing new links. We will strengthen efforts in concert with the region to combat terrorism and trans-national crime. We will extend capacity-building and other assistance – particularly in times of crisis – to Asia’s law enforcement agencies.
• Given the importance of facilitating the movement of people and goods between New Zealand and Asia, in both the short term and the long term, we will engage more with counterparts in Asian countries on security and intelligence matters to maintain confidence in our border security while welcoming trade and people flows from Asia.
• New Zealand will work with countries in Asia on environmental issues, particularly through APEC’s new focus on climate change and where we have environmental co-operation agreements (Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and possibly China and Malaysia in the future). The decision by leaders at the EAS Cebu summit to focus on energy security offers another avenue to work with our neighbours.
• As a friend and partner, New Zealand will offer unwavering support in the region for progressive values.

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Boosting New Zealand’s growth by linking to the growth of the Asian economies

• Closer connections with Asia – through formal and informal channels – plug us into the region’s dynamism. The Government will support those connections.
• We will continue working towards the successful conclusion of free trade and other agreements with our key Asian partners.
• Through initiatives such as Export Year 2007 and through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s work, we will focus on ways to help New Zealand fi rms to realise the opportunities emerging from Asia’s rapid growth. This will include working with industry organisations and other groups, such as the KEA network of New Zealand expatriates.
• A major expansion of NZTE’s Asian operations will see a greater presence on the ground and more services offered to assist New Zealand exporters in the region. Five more offi ces are being opened in China, one more offi ce in India, and New Zealand concept centres established in China and Japan, modelled on the one in Hong Kong. The expansion will also see the Beachheads programme (which helps New Zealand companies entering new markets through mentoring) extended in China and India. This increased focus refl ects the fact these markets present particular challenges for New Zealand in terms of culture, language and market structure that require additional support compared with other markets.
• The work being undertaken by the Government in partnership with the tourism sector, particularly in the China market, will pay careful attention to quality and other issues that might affect the tourism experience of our visitors from Asia.
• New Zealand will continue to pursue science and technology relations with priority partners in Asia to maintain high standards and to remain connected with emerging science leaders.
• The Government will commit, with business and other stakeholders, to developing the New Zealand brand in Asia.

Becoming more “Asia literate”

• New Zealanders are encouraged to make themselves more familiar with the Asian region and its peoples. The Government acknowledges the efforts of New Zealanders and New Zealand organisations who are working to promote Asia literacy in this country.
• The Government and the international education sector will sustain investment in encouraging stronger educational links with Asian countries and in attracting students from Asia to New Zealand.
• The Government recognises the importance of Asian languages education in New Zealand’s school and tertiary systems. Asian language learning will be supported through a range of Ministry resources, national and regional advisers, and professional development.
• Improving our understanding of one another’s cultures will enhance New Zealand’s interaction with the region. The Government supports the ongoing development of cross-cultural connections with Asia as well as within New Zealand with its ethnic Asian communities.
• The Government will renew support to the Asia New Zealand Foundation. We are presently considering options for its future following a recent review of the organisation. The valuable contribution made by Asia-relevant Track II organisations is acknowledged.
• The Government will work with the Asia New Zealand Foundation to find ways of increasing coverage of Asia by the New Zealand media.
• New Zealand will continue to seek the quality skilled migrants from Asia that we need for economic growth and development.
• Efforts are ongoing to help integrate Asian New Zealanders into all this work, recognising that they have a valuable contribution to make, with many offering to utilise their connections to their countries of origin.

Our future with Asia cannot be built by the Government sector alone. The Government has a major part to play, especially in organising its policies and efforts and in facilitating the contributions others can make. Involvement by the private sector, local government, and community and other groups is also critical.

Inevitably there will be funding implications that must be worked through. But most of the tools to achieve our goals are already available; it is how they are deployed that is important. We are not calling for new structures or organisations, but the Government is looking at strengthening a number of initiatives or organisations (such as the Asia New Zealand Foundation) so that they are better able to carry out their tasks.top of page

It is never easy for a small country like New Zealand to deal with a region as vast and diverse as Asia. So the New Zealand effort towards Asia needs to rest upon a co-ordinated approach involving all those with a stake in the future of relationships with Asia. To maximise resources, there has to be close co-ordination and policy cohesion among New Zealand agencies. The Government recognises and values the efforts undertaken by the non-government sectors in building their own Asia relationships.

There is no question that New Zealand has a future with Asia. The Government is committed to our strategy for that future. This paper also provides opportunities for those outside government to refine and update their own strategies for Asia.

New Zealand is already accepted as a natural and worthwhile partner. As with any relationship, the contribution that we make needs to be refreshed from time to time. New Zealand has to work actively in its own interests. But there is every reason to believe that New Zealand will succeed if we keep investing time and effort into our relationships with the region.

'Our Future with Asia' hard copy versions available upon request to enquiries@mfat.govt.nz

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