KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders need to become more "Asia literate" if New Zealand is to step up its relationship with the Asian region, says a white paper released yesterday titled Our Future with Asia.
The paper, defined by Prime Minister Helen Clark as "a major policy statement on the subject," says that the onus is on New Zealand to "accelerate the tempo of these relationships". That will be done across Government and in a more co-ordinated way, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs having responsibility for a coherent approach.
Much greater priority will be given to New Zealand's relationship with Asian countries. "It goes without saying that our engagement with Asia has to be a longer term, sustained effort, and not 'stop go' depending on whether times are good or bad," Helen Clark said as she launched the paper at Parliament with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who has just returned from Europe.
The paper says the country must invest more time and effort into strengthening ties with Asia, whether in business, politics, education or culture. But in an apparent reference to Japan, it adds that "we must take care not to neglect old friends in an effort to take up newer opportunities".
The paper says that if New Zealand is to become more "Asia literate", developing language and cultural skills must become a priority and the Government is developing a languages strategy. "We need more New Zealanders who are confident in their dealings with Asia and Asian societies, and that will only come through greater familiarity and knowledge of the region and its peoples."
It also said more in-depth media coverage of the region was required from mainstream media; and more use should be made of the skills and networks of Asian migrants.
Nine per cent of New Zealanders are Asian and in the Auckland area the percentage of Asians is 19 per cent.
Mr Peters said a third of New Zealand's diplomats and officials assigned overseas were based in Asia. New Zealand had 14 posts in the region.
Mr Peters dismissed suggestions his embracing of this Asia policy was at variance to his anti-immigration political campaigns. "We made it plain from day one from 1995 when we were raising issues about immigration and how unsound our practices were that we were not anti-immigrant. We were anti-careless, haphazard immigration policies and we have never changed."
GETTING IN TOUCH
A report suggests NZ needs to:
* Integrate better with the region through organisations such as the East Asia summit.
* Be a good neighbour by contributing to development assistance for poorer countries and involvement in regional security.
* Boost growth by linking to Asian economies.
