Hanoi (VNA) ཧ– Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam Do Hung Viet and his New Zealand counterpart Grahame Morton co-chaired the 32nd annual ASEAN – New Zealand dialogue in the central city of Da Nang on April 9, as Vietnam coordinates the two sides' relations for 2024–2027.

In his speech, Deputy Minister Viet stressed New Zealand's role as one of ASEAN’s first dialogue partners, citing its extensive cooperation frameworks, programmes, and initiatives that have significantly contributed to regional collaboration and development over the past five decades. Amid growing global and regional challenges and intensifying strategic competition, he said that the close and extensive ASEAN – New Zealand partnership is increasingly crucial in strengthening regional cooperation processes, especially in upholding an open, free, fair, and rules-based international trading system. Looking ahead to the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN – New Zealand dialogue ties this year, he noted that it's now the right time for the two sides to discuss and propose long-term strategic directions to elevate their partnership to a new level. ASEAN countries and New Zealand affirmed the importance of bilateral relations, stressing that the two sides share many common concerns, interests, and visions on regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Morton, in his capacity as Deputy Secretary at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, hailed ASEAN and Southeast Asian nations as high priorities in his country’s foreign policy. New Zealand pledges to support ASEAN's central role and assist the bloc in building its Community, and expects to elevate its relationship with ASEAN on both the regional and bilateral dimensions, he said. Delegates assessed the positive outcomes achieved across the four pillars of ASEAN – New Zealand cooperation, namely peace, prosperity, people, and planet. Notably, the total trade and services hit 27 billion NZD (15 billion USD), and New Zealand's total investment in ASEAN amounted to 6.45 billion NZD last year. While the 2021–2025 Action Plan achieved full implementation, both sides agreed that untapped potential remains, citing complementary strengths and new opportunities. Both sides emphasised the need to prioritise and allocate resources to enhance economic cooperation, facilitate trade and investment, diversify economic linkages, strengthen supply chains, and effectively utilise the recently upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) along with other multilateral trade agreements, particularly in the context of changing trade policies of some major countries, increasing protectionist trends, and rapid and profound geopolitical and geo-economic shifts. A closer connection between the two regions was also a key focus of many countries, aimed at supplementing and supporting the facilitation of trade, investment, and commerce exchanges between both parties, including the early signing of the ASEAN-New Zealand Air Services Agreement this year. Additionally, many ASEAN countries want to further promote cooperation in emerging, sustainable, and inclusive growth areas where New Zealand has significant strengths, such as digital economy, technology and innovation, AI governance, green development, renewable energy, space technology, climate-resilient agriculture, and high-quality capacity building and training. Sharing the priority of placing people at the centre of relations, ASEAN and New Zealand agreed to strengthen cooperation to ensure security and well-being for their people, which includes addressing climate change, ensuring cybersecurity, food security, and natural disaster management. New Zealand committed to continuing projects that enhance capacity for young leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as defence policy makers for ASEAN; providing scholarships for students from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to study in New Zealand; and supporting projects that enhance the role of ASEAN women in adapting to climate change. At the dialogue, countries shared views on several international and regional issues of mutual concern, such as those related to the East Sea, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and the Middle East. At the end of the dialogue, the countries affirmed their commitments to continue cooperating closely, exchanging ideas, and proposing higher levels of cooperation and development for bilateral relations, especially in 2025 when ASEAN celebrates the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community and ASEAN – New Zealand marks 50 years of relations. Both sides also agreed to link the development of significant documents guiding ASEAN – New Zealand cooperation, such as a joint vision and an action plan for the 2026-2030 period, with the key priorities, strategies, and long-term development directions of ASEAN./.