(KPL/VNA)  Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Vietnam’s permanent representative to ASEAN, highly valued New Zealand's steadfast commitments to support ASEAN's centrality while addressing the 12th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee (ANZJCC) meeting in Jakarta on May 15.

Huong showed her hope that ASEAN and New Zealand will have more practical activities to raise awareness by their people and enterprises to make good use of business cooperation opportunities.

Thanking Brunei for successfully fulfilling its current role as coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations, the diplomat affirmed that as the next coordinator, Vietnam is ready to cooperate with New Zealand to strengthen the special bilateral relations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations in 2025.

At the meeting, ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed commitment to strengthening their partnership and enhancing cooperation including through continued implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2021-2025).

ASEAN welcomed New Zealand’s support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and looked forward to concrete activities to enhance practical cooperation in line with the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP adopted in 2023.

Meanwhile, New Zealand committed to supporting the ASEAN Centrality, particularly through its participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms and implementation of cooperation activities under the four themes outlined in the Plan of Action 2021-2025- Peace, Prosperity, People, and Planet.

Noting that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations, and a new Plan of Action (2026-2030) will also be adopted next year, both sides agreed to explore initiatives and activities to commemorate the milestone and further substantiate cooperation.

New Zealand reiterated its intention to request the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of relations.

KPL