Institute notes: National Office and branch activities.

On 7 November Dr Stephan Lehne, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe in Brussels, gave a presentation at VUW on 'The State of EU Enlargement Policy: How Far from Membership is Turkey?'

A one-day symposium was held in Wellington on 13 November. The topic was 'Asia-Pacific Integration, The Economic and Security Dimensions for New Zealand'. Four sessions considered

* New Zealand's regional engagement: where is at?

* Regional economic integration: is it all headed in the same direction?

* Regional security integration: can we predict the future?

* Convergence or divergence?

A panel discussion, 'Expanding Friendship on a Solid Footing', was held in Wellington on 20 November to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Germany. The panellists were German Ambassador HE Dr Anne-Marie Schleich, Ian Hill (MFAT's divisional manager Europe), Dr Dave Lowe (New Zealand-Germany science and innovation co-ordinator) and Elisabeth Perham (alumna of German educational exchanges). Ken Gorbey (vice president and project director of the Jewish Museum, Berlin, 1999-2002) chaired the discussion.

On 14 November the NZIIA co-hosted with the EUC Network and the Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand a presentation in Parliament's Grand Hall by Ambassador HE Sem Fabrizi (head of the EU Delegation) on 'EU as a Global Player'.

Ms Buket Uzuner (bestselling Turkish novelist) gave an interesting presentation, 'The Long White Cloud--Gallipoli', at VUW on 19 November.

On 12 December a delegation from the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) met with the NZIIA at Te Papa. Leader of the CPIFA delegation was HE Li Zhaoxing, honorary president and former Chinese foreign minister. This was the first meeting between the two institutes for many years. Both sides agreed to remain in contact during 2014, which would be the 80th anniversary of the NZIIA and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China (and the CPIFA).

On 12 December Vijay Krishnarayan (Commonwealth Foundation director) addressed a meeting on 'The Rise and Rise of Civil Society: Future Directions of the Commonwealth'.

Mike Summers, a member of the Falkland Islands' Legislative Assembly, addressed a meeting on 'The Falkland Islanders Right to Self-determination' at Victoria University on 30 January.

Auckland

The following meetings were held:

10 Oct Dr Ashok Sharma (lecturer, Department of Political Studies, Auckland University), 'India-China...

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