ASEAN, New Zealand redouble commitment to strengthen partnership

SIEM REAP, 21 February 2020 – At the 27th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held in Siem Reap, Cambodia today, Senior Officials from ASEAN and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to redouble efforts toward strengthening the longstanding partnership in its 45th year of dialogue relations.

They noted the full implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action 2016-2020 and looked forward to two important milestones this year. The ASEAN-New Zealand Leaders’ Summit to commemorate the 45th anniversary of their dialogue relations will take place in April. Meanwhile, the adoption of a new Plan of Action for the 2021-2025 period at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Plus One (PMC + 1) session with New Zealand will be held this August.

Noting the ongoing negotiation of the Joint ASEAN-New Zealand Leaders’ Vision Statement and Plan of Action, the Senior Officials looked forward to the finalisation of the documents which would deepen strategic partnership towards the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations in 2025.

At the Dialogue, Senior Officials had discussions on regional and international issues as well as potential for enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Issues such as combating transnational crime, including countering terrorism and violent extremism, defence, maritime security, combating IUU fishing, good governance, trade and investment through the upgrade of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), sustainable development and climate change, disaster risk management, connectivity and support towards the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, were discussed.

The meeting also noted ASEAN’s collaborative efforts in addressing the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. ASEAN underscored the importance of its solidarity and the spirit of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community, in line with Viet Nam’s Chairmanship theme, in tackling the disease and similar challenges with its partners.

The Secretary of State Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, Kan Pharidh and the Deputy Secretary for the Americas and Asia Group, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, Ben King co-chaired the Dialogue. It was attended by representatives from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.