Institute notes: National Office and branch activities.

• Jurisdiction: New Zealand
• Date: 01 July 2006

On 26-27 April 2006, with assistance from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the NZIIA co-hosted in Singapore a two-day seminar with the Institute of South East Asian Studies. Other New Zealand-based participants were members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council.

The focus of the seminar was twofold: first, to share Singapore and New Zealand views on current and medium-term political and economic trends in the wider Asian region and their possible implications for the two countries; and secondly, to examine a number of specific aspects of the Singapore--New Zealand bilateral relationship and identify areas where the relationship could be strengthened. The keynote New Zealand address was given by Hon Jim Sutton.

The NZIIA was represented by the Director, Brian Lynch, who chaired a session on regional defence and strategic issues, and gave a paper on 'A New Zealand Perspective on Emerging East Asian Architecture'. (The text of his address is to be found elsewhere in this issue.)

The seminar was a 'first' for the NZIIA and...