Hanoi (VNA) – The 27th ASEAN – New Zealand Dialogue took place onFebruary 20-21 in Cambodia, focusing on commitments to further deepening bilateralstrategic partnership in 2020.

Participants acknowledged outcomes in cooperation between ASEAN and NewZealand, and pledged to closely coordinate in ensuring efficiency of regionalcooperation mechanisms such as the East AsiaSummit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEANDefence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM ).

Sharing the same view of supporting an open, fair and rules-based multilateral internationaltrading system, the two sides agreed to evaluate the implementation andnegotiation for upgrading the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA)and exert efforts to complete negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) in 2020.

The meeting also noted the progress of drafting the ASEAN-New Zealand ActionPlan for the period 2021-2025.

New Zealand affirmed its support for the central role played by ASEAN in theregion, while appreciating the “ASEAN Outlookfor the Indo-Pacific” document, and proposingthe strengthening of cooperation in the fields relating to security, economy,people and environment.

Regarding international and regional situations, the two sides reiterated theirviews on the East Sea stated at the ASEANForeign Ministers’ Retreat in January, which emphasised theimportance of maintaining peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation andaviation in the East Sea, strictly and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the EastSea (DOC), and actively negotiating tobuild an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

New Zealand supports ASEAN's efforts in humanitarian assistance activitiesin Myanmar's Rakhine state, and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.

The two sides also shared concern over the impact of the coronarivus disease (COVID-19)on the world and the region, and agreed to enhance cooperation to combat thisdisease.

As the ASEAN Chair, Vietnam shared ASEAN's prioritiesand initiatives in 2020, affirming that Vietnam will continue to promote theclose relationship between the bloc and New Zealand.

Vietnam also suggested stronger cooperation between the two sides in specificfields such as maritime collaboration, economic connectivity, sub-regionaldevelopment and gender equality. It affirmed to closely coordinate with ASEAN countriesand New Zealand to successfully organise the ASEAN-New Zealand Summit in order tocelebrate the 45th anniversary of the partnership between the two sides in Aprilthis year./.