So hello everyone and welcome to this E-Syp online conversation about the trade and economic development in the Asia Pacific.

And what role that trade policy is playing for new economic integration

emerging in this region? My name is Fredo Carrickson and I'm very pleased to welcome today

Vangelis Vitades, New Zealand's Deputy Secretary for Trade and Economic Affairs,

who has been chairing APEC's senior officials meeting during New Zealand's host chair for the Regional Forum in 2021.

Vangelis, of course, is known to many people in the European trade community since it's been New Zealand's ambassador to the EU and the WTO.

He's also had several other senior positions in trade policy leading, for instance,

New Zealand's team of negotiators in the FTA negotiation with the EU,

and being the concluding chief negotiator for the country in the CPP-TPP negotiations.

Vangelis has also called himself a long-suffering but ever hopeful supporter of the Wellington

Phoenix Football Club and preparing for this conversation I actually watched the highlights of its last

game against Newcastle Jets on Friday. Vangelis is a great pleasure and honor to have you with me today,

but I'm afraid to say that the suffering will continue for yet another

season.

That was a very cruel way to start the conversation.

I know, I know.

I'm taking the bad news from the start, so we can only do the good things later.

Of course, when you said highlights, they were certainly not highlights from my perspective it was a

terrible game um my only hope is that it's only the third i think it's the third game of the season

so all is not yet lost but it was a typically bad start um for those for those who are dying

i'd hate to spoil the game for you, but we lost 4-0.

So anyone who's wanting to watch that game, please don't.

...