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Prime Minister John Key and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English today announced a set of ambitious targets the Government has set for the public sector to achieve over the next five years.

“These targets are central to the Government's plans to create a public service that is more innovative, enterprising, driven, and focused on results,” Mr Key says.

These measurable targets, which will be reported on regularly, sit underneath the 10 challenging results the Government announced in March for the public sector to achieve over the next five years.

The fourth-ranked Chinese leader, Jia Qinglin, will arrive in New Zealand on Sunday for a four day visit to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Chairman Jia, who will be hosted in New Zealand by Acting Prime Minister Bill English, is chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will visit New Zealand for bilateral and business meetings over the next few days.

Mr Phuc, who arrives in New Zealand on Saturday, is to meet with the Governor General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, Acting Prime Minister Bill English, Justice Minister Judith Collins, Education Minister Hekia Parata, Attorney General Chris Finlayson, and Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English will lead New Zealand’s ministerial delegation to the annual Australian New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney, which starts tomorrow.

He will be accompanied by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, Trade Minister Tim Groser and Commerce Minister Craig Foss.

The eighth Forum, which brings together senior politicians and business leaders from both countries, starts tomorrow night and concludes on Friday.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English has paid tribute to Sir Peter Tapsell, who passed away in Ruatoria on Thursday night.

“I was saddened to learn of Sir Peter’s death and my thoughts are with his family at this time,” Mr English said.

“As the first Maori Speaker of Parliament in 1993, Sir Peter’s considered and dignified manner was a positive influence on a tense Parliament preparing for the first MMP election.

“He was respected by MPs across the political spectrum for his independent, thoughtful and direct style.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English has announced that Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang will visit New Zealand exporters as well as meet our Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade next week.

“Mr Tsang is arriving in Auckland on Tuesday to discuss two-way trade and other bilateral issues and to learn about innovations in the export sector.

“He is particularly interested in Auckland’s waterfront revitalisation, in light of Hong Kong’s plans to upgrade its waterfront,” says Mr English.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English and Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce say they are deeply saddened by the news that Sir Paul Callaghan has died in Wellington.

"Sir Paul Callaghan was an outstanding New Zealander who made his mark as a world-leading scientist. He fought a valiant battle with cancer, and has been taken from us far too early," Mr English says. "Our thoughts are with Sir Paul's family at this time.