Source: ASEAN
Da Nang, Viet Nam, 9 April 2025 – ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their strong and enduring partnership during the 32nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held in Da Nang, Viet Nam, today. The Dialogue provided an opportunity for both sides to review cooperation and discuss its future direction, particularly in light of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations this year.
The discussion was focused on key areas of ASEAN-New Zealand cooperation, with a view to strengthening peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development.On peace and stability, both sides agreed to continue enhancing cooperation in areas such as countering terrorism, transnational crime, maritime cooperation, and cyber security.
Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening trade and investment and regional economic integration, including through the full implementation of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).
The Meeting underscored the growing importance of enhancing people-to-people ties and the need to further amplify cooperation in education, human capital development, and Technical and Vocaltional Education and Training (TVET).
In line with the theme of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year of “Sustainability and Inclusivity”, both sides discussed fostering closer collaboration on climate change, environmental protection, disaster management, and narrowing the development gap, with New Zealand reaffirming its support for ASEAN’s green agenda and sustainable development initiatives.
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of dialogue relations, the Meeting noted the ongoing discussion on the proposal for an ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the development of a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2026-2030) to guide future cooperation. The Meeting further noted upcoming ASEAN-New Zealand engagements, including preparations for an ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to be held back-to-back with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summit in Malaysia in November 2025.
ASEAN and New Zealand also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding multilateralism and strengtening the ASEAN-led regional architecture, including through the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The 32nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Do Hung Viet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and ASEAN SOM Leader of Viet Nam, and H.E. Grahame Morton, Deputy Secretary for Asia and Americas Group and New Zealand’s SOM Leader for ASEAN, and attended by Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
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Images Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Viet Nam
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