INDEPENDENT NEWS

NZ, Australia, ASEAN launch free trade talks

Published: Wed 1 Dec 2004 07:18 AM
1 December 2004 Media Statement
New Zealand, Australia, ASEAN launch free trade talks
New Zealand, Australia, and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to launch negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today.
“This agreement is a significant trade breakthrough and an opportunity to build closer links with our ASEAN neighbours,” the Prime Minister said.
“Five ASEAN countries are among our top twenty trading partners and the region accounts for more than eight per cent of New Zealand’s exports. A free trade agreement would mean better access for New Zealand to a market of over half a billion people. ”
“More important still, an FTA would help to strengthen New Zealand’s strategic ties with a region which is very significant to us. New Zealand already has a free trade agreement with Singapore, a new agreement with Thailand is also being announced this evening, and we are studying the benefits of launching negotiations with Malaysia in 2005.”
Negotiations on a New Zealand-Australia FTA with ASEAN will get underway early in 2005.
The FTA announcement came at the end of an historic commemorative summit meeting in Vientiane involving Helen Clark, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and ASEAN leaders.
“For thirty years New Zealand and Australia have been Dialogue Partners with ASEAN. Back in 1975, our relationship with members of the grouping was oriented variously to defence, development, and education links.”
“In the three decades since, it has grown beyond governmental contacts to include a wider range of economic, academic and people-to-people links.”
“New Zealand is moving to become more closely engaged with the countries of South East Asia. With today’s announcement of negotiations towards an FTA, we have the opportunity to take another important step in the development of this very important regional relationship”, Helen Clark said.
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media