A Closer Economic Partnership with New Zealand would also serve to advance both our commercial interests in each other s region. International Cooperation I would like to speak briefly about the other two areas of cooperation. My government s foreign policy is premised on the assumption that quality foreign relationships have to be multi-dimensional, and that New Zealand should project itself in the world in a rounded way. Because of its geographical isolation, New Zealand looks actively beyond its shores. We have our own ideas, goals and interests that we are prepared to back.
Chile has the same approach.
There is a lot in common between New World countries like Chile and New Zealand when it comes to debating the Law of the Sea, marine conservation, Antarctica and disarmament. We have been grateful for Chile s support for our proposal for a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary, and we are sympathetic to Chile s concerns about the problems of managing international fishing in the high seas. Chile has supported the work of New Zealand and other New Agenda countries in disarmament at the United Nations by co-sponsoring our resolutions, and we share similar concern about the transport of nuclear material. As gateway countries to Antarctica we also share a common concern to maintain that white continent as an unspoilt place of scientific research and international cooperation. As southern hemisphere temperate countries in the Valdivia Group, we share interests across the international environmental agenda.