ASEAN, New Zealand reaffirm commitment to strengthen ties
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation under the bilateral plan of action (2021-2025) at the recent 10th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee meeting.
ASEAN and New Zealand diplomats at the 10th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee meeting. (Photo: asean.org)
Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment toenhance cooperation under the bilateral plan of action (2021-2025) at the recent10th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committeemeeting.
Atthe event held at the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters in Jakarta on June 16, bothsides noted the progress made within the first year of the action planimplementation.
Theylooked forward to the resumption of activities previously halted due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, including business and people-to-people exchanges, as wellas New Zealand’s plan to reopen its border by the end of this July.
Tofurther boost air connectivity and economic recovery in both regions, themeeting recognised the importance of concluding negotiations on the regional airservices agreement between the Governments of ASEAN member states and NewZealand. Towards this end, New Zealand briefed on its Peace, Prosperity,People, and Planet (4Ps) partnership programme.
Againstthe backdrop of global economic uncertainties, participants highlighted the significanceof an open, inclusive, rules-based trading and investment arrangement andwelcomed the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) Agreement in January this year.
The two sides looked forward to the conclusion of talks toupgrade the agreement to establish the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free TradeArea (AANZFTA).
Theyalso discussed regional and international issues of common interest, stressingthe importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms and ASEAN centrality in maintainingpeace, security and stability in the region./.
Ambassador Vu Ho represented Vietnam at the ASEAN+3 Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) 2022 hosted by Cambodia via video teleconference on June 8, which gathered senior officials from ten ASEAN member states and their three partners – China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, attended the second meeting of the ASEAN-Italy Development Partnership Committee (AI-DPC) on June 10.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China should utilise their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in late November 2021, to cope with traditional and non-traditional challenges amid the present complicated situation, Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, has said.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (SAIFMM) in New Delhi on June 16 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN - India relations.
It is time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India to elevate their strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation to a new height, for peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said at the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on June 16.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
ASEAN and New Zealand diplomats at the 10th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee meeting. (Photo: asean.org) 
