Peters hits the deck running in diplomatic role
WELLINGTON: Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was last night on his way back to New Zealand after talks with his AsiaPacific counterparts, and a meeting with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Mr Peters left New Zealand overnight on Wednesday after the end of his stint as Acting Prime Minister to take part in the East Asia Summit ministers meeting, the Asean regional forum and the Southwest Pacific Dialogue in Singapore.
‘‘These meetings were an opportunity for all countries in the region to discuss the big issues confronting the Asia Pacific region, including North Korea, recent developments in the South China Sea, developments in Myanmar, and the importance of ensuring that trade disputes are managed in accordance with existing international rules,’’ Mr Peters said before his return.
‘‘I had an excellent discussion with Secretary of State Pompeo covering a wide range of issues including recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, and issues of mutual interest in the bilateral relationship,’’ he said.
Mr Peters also met the foreign ministers of Singapore, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Cambodia, Iran, the Philippines, and Turkey.
‘‘I had wideranging discussions with my Singaporean counterpart, and reviewed the strong progress officials were making on the negotiation for an enhanced partnership.
‘‘I was also pleased to meet with my North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho,and to have a useful exchange of views on recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and future prospects,’’ Mr Peters said.
Before he left, Mr Peters had reiterated the importance of New Zealand’s relationship with the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
‘‘I will be stressing the importance of the rulesbased international order in enhancing peace and prosperity.’’
China recently expressed its displeasure to New Zealand over the Government’s new Strategic Defence Policy Statement.
The policy statement was unusually explicit for New Zealand in its criticism of China’s military buildup in the South China Sea and referred to its activities in the Antarctic.
Mr Peters, in a major foreign policy speech in June, talked about the militarisation of the South China Seas without mentioning China, which was in keeping with the past Government’s practice.
Mr Peters included some guarded criticism of the US, in an apparent reference to its need to uphold a rulesbased order in international trade.
‘‘Our emphasis on international law, inclusivity, economic integration, trade, and respect for sovereignty makes us a constructive regional partner for most states,’’ he said.
New Zealand has been excluded from US exemptions on steel and aluminium tariffs, a situation that appears to have been laid at the feet of Ambassador to the United States Tim Groser.
More positively though, US President Donald Trump signed off a law change that will allow New Zealand investors and entrepreneurs easier access to the US through visas. — NZME