Wellington, Nov 17 (Xinhua) Pansy Wong, the first ethnic Chinese member of New Zealand's parliament, Monday was appointed the country's first Asian minister holding the cabinet portfolio of ethnic and women's affairs.
Fiftythree-year-old Pansy said her appointment as the country's first Asian cabinet minister showed that New Zealand is an open society.
Born in Shanghai, Wong's family moved to Hong Kong when she was five and moved to New Zealand in 1974.
She studied at Canterbury University where she met and married Malaysian Chinese Sammy.
In 1996, she became parliament's first Asian member nominated by the National Party.
Wong said she has tried to represent Asian communities, but she does not see herself as a spokesperson for all Asians, as there is a diverse range of interests and views within the wide group.
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