Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined other ASEAN leaders and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the ASEAN–New Zealand Commemorative Summit on October 28, marking the 50th anniversary of their partnership.
At the meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the ASEAN Chair for 2025, along with other ASEAN leaders and PM Luxon, highly valued Vietnam’s contributions as the current coordinator of ASEAN–New Zealand dialogue relations for 2024–2027. They commended Vietnam for actively facilitating negotiations that led to the successful elevation of ASEAN-New Zealand ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — a new milestone laying the foundation for deeper, broader cooperation in the years ahead.
Leaders from both sides reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation across political-security, economic, and people-to-people domains over the past five decades, and emphasised that the summit was not only an occasion to reflect on shared achievements but also to define a joint vision for the future.
They adopted the Joint Vision Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations, in which they agreed to upgrade relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with four pillars — Peace, Prosperity, People, and Planet. They also endorsed the ASEAN–New Zealand Plan of Action 2026–2030 to implement concrete initiatives. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, regional peace and stability, and an open, transparent, inclusive, rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN playing the central role.
ASEAN and New Zealand also agreed to effectively implement the upgraded ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), support the implementation of the ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), and enhance cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges such as cyber threats, transnational crime, pandemics, and climate change. The two sides will also strengthen collaboration in digital and green economy integration, innovation, clean energy, and artificial intelligence governance, among other fields.
In people-to-people and education links, both sides pledged to expand scholarship programmes, vocational training, student exchanges, and cooperation in cultural heritage and creative industries. They will also boost cooperation in green transition, sustainable agriculture, and disaster risk reduction.
PM Luxon affirmed that New Zealand, one of ASEAN’s oldest dialogue partners, attaches great importance to fostering a close, trusted, and substantive relationship with ASEAN and its members. New Zealand supports ASEAN's unity, centrality and efforts to build a resilient, inclusive and sustainable community.
New Zealand pledged to contribute resources to implement the 2026–2030 Action Plan, including 147 million NZD (84.77 million USD) in climate finance support, 27 million NZD for green technology development, and 25 million NZD for the establishment of the ASEAN–New Zealand Vision Fund to advance cooperation initiatives in economy, climate change, and environmental protection, while expanding the Manaaki Scholarship Programme and establishing the ASEAN–New Zealand Trade Academy to strengthen subregional cooperation, including in the Mekong Sub-region.
Speaking at the event, PM Chinh highlighted the historical significance of upgrading the partnership on its 50th anniversary, calling it a testament to the maturity and depth of ASEAN–New Zealand relations.
He proposed three key priorities for future cooperation including safeguarding an environment of peace, stability, and cooperation in service of inclusive and sustainable development while supporting ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea; boosting economic connectivity and innovation-driven growth, especially through science, technology, and innovation and the implementation of the upgraded AANZFTA and DEFA; and enhancing people-centred cooperation through human resource development and stronger linkages among governments, academia, and businesses.
As coordinator, Vietnam has actively and responsibly contributed to drafting and negotiating the two key outcome documents of the summit — the Joint Vision Statement and the 2026–2030 Plan of Action — both of which received full endorsement from ASEAN and New Zealand leaders./.
