Canberra (VNA) – A ceremony to celebrate the 57th ASEAN Day was held in Wellington, New Zealand on August 16 by embassies of ASEAN member states in the host country, featuring vibrant cultural art and culinary programmes.
It offered a chance for the ASEAN member states to demonstrate their solidarity and promote cultural diversity.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Wellington (ACW) - Thai Ambassador Waravuth Pouapinya highlighted significant achievements of ASEAN, emphasising the central role and position of the ASEAN community in Southeast Asia.
He also stressed the importance of the Strategic Partnership between New Zealand and ASEAN and prospects for further elevating the ASEAN-New Zealand relationship.
The ambassador noted that the visits by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters to Southeast Asia in 2024 showed New Zealand's strong interest in ASEAN countries.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deborah Geels pointed out that ASEAN is one of New Zealand's major export partners and a key political and security partner in the Asia-Pacific region. She affirmed New Zealand's desire to upgrade its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by 2025, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations./.
