Text of NZ Opposition leader's remarks at dinner reception for President Musharr

ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP): Following is the text of the remarks by New Zealand's Leader of the Opposition Dr Don Brash at a parliamentary dinner reception hosted by Prime Minister Helen Clark in Auckland on June 17.
"Your Excellency Mr. President, Your excellency Mrs Musharraf, My parliamentary colleagues, distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen !
On behalf of the parliamentary opposition, it gives me a great pleasure to warmly endorse Prime Minister Helen Clark's
welcome to you here.
As the Prime Minister said Pakistan and New Zealand have many references. Pakistan is a country with 150 million people and New Zealand with about 4 million people. Pakistan, a country which is an Islamic Republic. New Zealand, a secular constitutional monarchy. Pakistan has a very large neighbour, with which it from time to time it had rather strong differences of views. New Zealand, too, has a very large neighbour. But by and large we have
a reasonable relationship with that neighbour.
Pakistan's per capita income is 500 US dollars a year, New Zealand's is some 40 or 50 times of that level.
Sir, but as Prime Minister Helen Clark has said we have many things in common. Clearly, we are both countries of the
Commonwealth.
We were interestingly both original members of the SEATO, we both  abhor terrorism, we both love cricket, though we don't play quite as  well but we greatly admire your cricketers.
And when my wife and I had a son, some 12 years ago and we called him Thomas Khan. More than one person assumed we were naming him after the great Pakistani cricketer. Actually, we were naming him after Changez.
I have the privilege to have worked with a number of very distinguished Pakistanis. As I mentioned to you Sir earlier today, I worked with Dr Mahbub ul Haq, one of the greatest modern economists, when we were both working for the World Bank. And later with Sartaj Aziz, who went on to become a distinguished Pakistani politician. I had the privilege of working with a number of Pakistani central banks through an organization which links the
Central Bank of this part of the world.
But there is clearly a great deal to further develop a relationship between our two countries and you told me sir about your strong interest in agricultural techniques and education. So, I certainly very much endorse the PM's comments when she welcomes the opportunity of a better, more productive and substantial
relationship between our two countries in the future."