10 November 2014 - Her
Excellency Datin Paduka Tan Bee Yong, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to
New Zealand, this evening hosted a reception to commemorate the 30th
Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Brunei
Darussalam and New Zealand. The reception was held at the James Cook Grand
Chancellor Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand.
Present
as the Guest of Honour was The Hon. Todd McClay, Minister of Revenue, Minister
of State Owned Enterprises, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Associate
Minister of Trade of New Zealand.
The
reception was attended by over 150 guests from the New Zealand Parliament, various
New Zealand Government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Primary Resources; Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment; Education New Zealand; New Zealand
Tourism; New Zealand Wind Energy Association; New Zealand Trade and Enterprise;
New Zealand Oil and Gas; and Immigration New Zealand.
Also
present were representatives from the New Zealand – ASEAN Business Council; Universities;
non-governmental organizations; and the diplomatic community in
Wellington.
Among
those that attended the event were a group of 22 senior Government officials
from Brunei Darussalam, who were in Wellington as part of their ongoing
Executive Development Program, and officials from the Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources, who were on a working visit to New Zealand.
In
her remarks, Her Excellency Datin Paduka Tan Bee Yong thanked the distinguished
guests for joining the special occasion to commemorate the 30th
Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand.
Her Excellency highlighted that Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand continued to enjoy
a warm, close and growing relationship, with strong bonds of friendship fostered
at all levels.
Her
Excellency highlighted that education, health, defence and trade were the
pillars of bilateral cooperation, which continued to prosper and develop year by
year. In education, Her Excellency underlined the importance of Brunei
Darussalam’s longstanding relationship with the University of Otago and the
University of Auckland, and expressed the hope that Brunei students in New
Zealand would add value and diversity to the local culture and leave a personal
meaning to the relationship. Her Excellency expressed appreciation for the
contribution of New Zealand professionals, especially educators and pilots, to Brunei’s
socio-economic development, and hoped that more young New Zealanders would
undertake their studies in Brunei Darussalam’s academic institutions.
Her
Excellency commended the regular interactions and trust shared by the military
personnel of both countries, including the unique relationship between New
Zealand’s Massey University and the Brunei Defence Academy.
Her
Excellency also touched on the close collaboration by both countries in the regional
and international arena, which have presented Brunei
Darussalam and New Zealand as strategic partners and laid a solid platform for
further practical cooperation. Her Excellency took the opportunity to congratulate
New Zealand on its successful election as a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council.
In
his speech delivered on behalf of the New Zealand Government, the Hon. Todd
McClay expressed pleasure in jointly celebrating a key milestone in the Brunei
Darussalam – New Zealand relationship. Noting that education was a cornerstone
in the relationship, the Hon. Minister highlighted the training of Brunei’s
future doctors and medical professionals in New Zealand under special
arrangements with the University of Otago, and acknowledged the presence of New
Zealand’s small but significant community in Brunei Darussalam.
The
Hon. Minister expressed appreciation for the close cooperation between Brunei
Darussalam and New Zealand in the field of defence, including their
collaboration as co-chairs of the Experts Working Group on Maritime Security,
under the ADMM-Plus process.
Reiterating
New Zealand’s commitment to deepen its links to the Asia-Pacific region, the
Hon. Minister looked forward to the 40th Anniversary of dialogue
relations between ASEAN and New Zealand in 2015, and expressed its desire to deepen
regional economic integration through the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement
and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The Hon. Todd McClay
conveyed the appreciation of the New Zealand Government for Brunei Darussalam’s
support towards its United Nations Security Council candidature, and looked
forward to representing the voice of small, Asia Pacific States during its
term.
The
reception featured a brief video presentation, which highlighted key moments in
the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand, as well as cultural
performances presented by Brunei students currently residing in New Zealand.
Wellington
10
November 2014
