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Message from the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on the
Opening of High Commission for Pakistan in New Zealand
I am pleased to learn that Foreign Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters would be inaugurating formal opening of High Commission for Pakistan in Wellington on 22 November, 2006. The opening of the resident High Commission is a sequel to the visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to New Zealand in June 2005.
Pakistan and New Zealand
enjoy cordial and friendly relations. The two countries have great potential for
closer interaction in economic, commercial, agricultural, scientific and
educational fields. Currently, we are in the process of sending 200 students for
Post-graduate and Doctoral studies in various New Zealand universities.
I am confident that the new High Commission would act as a catalyst to further
strengthen and expand existing political, economic and commercial relations
between the two friendly countries.
Formal Opening of Pakistan High Commission in New Zealand
Foreign Minister of New Zealand addressing the Opening Ceremony of HCP
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Foreign Minister of New Zealand attended the formal opening ceremony of High Commission for Pakistan in Wellington , New Zealand on 22 November, 2006. A large number of people from all walks of life including Members of Parliament, Head of diplomatic Missions, academicians, businessmen, journalists and members of the Pakistani community attended the ceremony.
High Commissioner, Munawar
Saeed Bhatti, in his welcome address recalled that new High Commission was
established in May this year in pursuance to the announcement made by the
President during his highly successful visit to New Zealand in June 2005. The
decision reflected the importance Pakistan attached to relations with New
Zealand , its achievements and the role it was playing in the region. He said
that there was great potential for cooperation in areas like trade, agriculture,
dairy and education and the two countries must exploit this potential to the
maximum. He expressed the hope that as a beginning more than 100 Pakistani
students would be able to join New Zealand universities from the next academic
year in February 2007. The President had announced that Pakistan would place 200
students in New Zealand universities for Post-Graduate and Doctoral studies
annually.
In his inaugural address, Foreign Minister, Winston Peters welcomed the opening
of Pakistan High Commission in Wellington which would help in strengthening and
expanding relations in diverse fields. He said that President General Pervez
Musharraf's visit last year has started a new era in the bilateral relations.
The two sides have identified agriculture and education sectors for closer
cooperation. New Zealand would warmly welcome Pakistani students as part of this
arrangement. He said that New Zealand appreciated Pakistan 's achievements in
the economic field and the important role it was playing in the region. He
expressed satisfaction on the first round of bilateral consultations between the
two Foreign Ministries held at Islamabad in September this year and said that
New Zealand looked forward to host the Pakistan delegation in 2007.
The well attended ceremony started with recitation and translation from the Holy Quran. A slide show presenting a panoramic view of Pakistan and singing of a Pakistani national song by a renowned expatriate artist was part of the program.
