10 December 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez hosted a luncheon meeting with the Asia Plus Group on November 07 at the Philippine Ambassador’s Residence.

The Group composed of Mexican Ambassador Rosaura Leonora Rueda Gutierrez, Chilean Ambassador Isauro Torres Negri, Turkish Ambassador Damla Yesim Say, Singapore High Commissioner Peter Chan, Australian High Commissioner Michael Potts, Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Nogawa, South African High Commissioner Ntombizodwa Msuthukazi Lallie, Pakistani High Commissioner Zehra Akbari, Israeli Ambassador Yosef Livne, Indian High Commissioner Ravi Thapar, Solomon Islands High Commissioner Joy Finioa Kere, Indonesian Ambassador Jose Tavares, Timor-Leste Ambassador Cristiano da Costa, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Viet Dung, Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger, Malaysian High Commissioner Dato’ Lim Kim Eng, Iranian Ambassador Jalaladdin Namini Miyanji, and Fiji Acting High Commissioner Mere Tora. With them was Dr. Anna Powles, Senior Lecturer in Security Studies with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University.

The Asia Plus Group is composed of 29 of Diplomatic Mission from Canada, Thailand, Niue, Cook Islands, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Chile, Samoa, Turkey, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Pakistan, Israel, China, India, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam, Switzerland, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, United States of America and Iran, that meet monthly for hosted luncheons or dinners rotated among the members. It is up to the host to invite a guest speaker to talk on a subject of interest to the Group and interact with the Heads of Mission.

Ambassador Benavidez invited Dr. Powles who spoke about New Zealand’s rapidly evolving strategic environment within its immediate Pacific neighbourhood and beyond to Asia, security moves and implications in the light of the increasing threats from ISIS in Iraq and Syria, challenges and reform agenda as the country takes its seat in the United Nations Security Council and developments in the regional architecture and additional emerging security issues. Following Dr. Powles’ presentation, interactive discussions and exchange of views among the Ambassadors and High Commissioners ensued around the dining table.

It was a productive and enlightening luncheon meeting as Asia Plus Group members enhanced the spirit of camaraderie and goodwill among themselves, contributed ideas and comments on the speaker’s topic and enjoyed the Filipino cuisine and ambience at “Ang Bahay,” END10 December 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez hosted a luncheon meeting with the Asia Plus Group on November 07 at the Philippine Ambassador’s Residence.

The Group composed of Mexican Ambassador Rosaura Leonora Rueda Gutierrez, Chilean Ambassador Isauro Torres Negri, Turkish Ambassador Damla Yesim Say, Singapore High Commissioner Peter Chan, Australian High Commissioner Michael Potts, Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Nogawa, South African High Commissioner Ntombizodwa Msuthukazi Lallie, Pakistani High Commissioner Zehra Akbari, Israeli Ambassador Yosef Livne, Indian High Commissioner Ravi Thapar, Solomon Islands High Commissioner Joy Finioa Kere, Indonesian Ambassador Jose Tavares, Timor-Leste Ambassador Cristiano da Costa, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Viet Dung, Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger, Malaysian High Commissioner Dato’ Lim Kim Eng, Iranian Ambassador Jalaladdin Namini Miyanji, and Fiji Acting High Commissioner Mere Tora. With them was Dr. Anna Powles, Senior Lecturer in Security Studies with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University.

The Asia Plus Group is composed of 29 of Diplomatic Mission from Canada, Thailand, Niue, Cook Islands, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Chile, Samoa, Turkey, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Pakistan, Israel, China, India, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam, Switzerland, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, United States of America and Iran, that meet monthly for hosted luncheons or dinners rotated among the members. It is up to the host to invite a guest speaker to talk on a subject of interest to the Group and interact with the Heads of Mission.

Ambassador Benavidez invited Dr. Powles who spoke about New Zealand’s rapidly evolving strategic environment within its immediate Pacific neighbourhood and beyond to Asia, security moves and implications in the light of the increasing threats from ISIS in Iraq and Syria, challenges and reform agenda as the country takes its seat in the United Nations Security Council and developments in the regional architecture and additional emerging security issues. Following Dr. Powles’ presentation, interactive discussions and exchange of views among the Ambassadors and High Commissioners ensued around the dining table.

It was a productive and enlightening luncheon meeting as Asia Plus Group members enhanced the spirit of camaraderie and goodwill among themselves, contributed ideas and comments on the speaker’s topic and enjoyed the Filipino cuisine and ambience at “Ang Bahay,” END