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**HedgeYourBets** · 04-25-2012, 11:17 AM

"Fabulously Successful" - PM John Key's view of Singapore...

NZ PM heads home after Asia trade trip

Laura McQuillan

April 19, 2012
AAP

After popping in to say hi to his Singaporean counterparts during a rushed visit, Prime Minister John Key is heading back to New Zealand with new Indonesian trade deals and tighter bilateral ties with both Asian countries.

Mr Key met with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the presidential residence in the Singaporean capital on Thursday for friendly talks on how to further enhance a relationship forged on the battlefields of WWII.

He was welcomed by a military band performing God Defend New Zealand, before signing guest books for both leaders and shaking hands Commonwealth heads of mission.

Singapore is now New Zealand's 11th-largest export market - surpassing the United Kingdom - although with a population of only 5.5 million, compared to more than one billion in China, there is only so much room for trade to grow.

Mr Key spent only a day in Singapore following three days of intense trade and bilateral meetings in Indonesia, where he led a delegation of New Zealand business representatives.

He says the whirlwind Singapore visit - a chance to do little more than catch up - was important to ensure the "extremely well-established" relationship isn't taken for granted.

"There's still more potential - the Singaporeans are wealthy, so they want high-quality food, and they increasingly consuming a lot more wine, they want to buy protein and they have no domestic production, so the possibilities are great here," Mr Key told media."Singapore are like us - they're keen to expand global trade, they're not protectionists, they know they have to make their way in the world and bluntly, they've been fabulously successful.

"The challenge is, can we use, sometimes, Singaporean capital and New Zealand skill to tackle fast-growing Asian markets? I think there's real opportunities there."

Singapore is also a strategic location that can open doors to the wider Asian region for both the government and businesses.
Mr Lee may also pay a visit to New Zealand this year, Mr Key says.

He's described the Southeast Asian trade trip as highly successful, with four memoranda of understanding signed with Indonesia on geothermal energy, agriculture, labour and environmental issues, along with opportunities for the business delegation to build local ties.

© 2012 AAP

04-25-2012, 11:17 AM	#3
HedgeYourBets Join Date Aug 2008 Posts 4,655 Senior Member	*"Fabulously Successful"* - PM John Key's view of Singapore... NZ PM heads home after Asia trade trip Laura McQuillan April 19, 2012 AAP After popping in to say hi to his Singaporean counterparts during a rushed visit, Prime Minister John Key is heading back to New Zealand with new Indonesian trade deals and tighter bilateral ties with both Asian countries. Mr Key met with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the presidential residence in the Singaporean capital on Thursday for friendly talks on how to further enhance a relationship forged on the battlefields of WWII. He was welcomed by a military band performing God Defend New Zealand, before signing guest books for both leaders and shaking hands Commonwealth heads of mission. Singapore is now New Zealand's 11th-largest export market - surpassing the United Kingdom - although with a population of only 5.5 million, compared to more than one billion in China, there is only so much room for trade to grow. Mr Key spent only a day in Singapore following three days of intense trade and bilateral meetings in Indonesia, where he led a delegation of New Zealand business representatives. He says the whirlwind Singapore visit - a chance to do little more than catch up - was important to ensure the "extremely well-established" relationship isn't taken for granted. "There's still more potential - the Singaporeans are wealthy, so they want high-quality food, and they increasingly consuming a lot more wine, they want to buy protein and they have no domestic production, so the possibilities are great here," Mr Key told media."Singapore are like us - they're keen to expand global trade, they're not protectionists, they know they have to make their way in the world and bluntly, they've been fabulously successful. "The challenge is, can we use, sometimes, Singaporean capital and New Zealand skill to tackle fast-growing Asian markets? I think there's real opportunities there." Singapore is also a strategic location that can open doors to the wider Asian region for both the government and businesses. Mr Lee may also pay a visit to New Zealand this year, Mr Key says. He's described the Southeast Asian trade trip as highly successful, with four memoranda of understanding signed with Indonesia on geothermal energy, agriculture, labour and environmental issues, along with opportunities for the business delegation to build local ties. © 2012 AAP
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