On the morning of October 28 in the capital Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, leaders of ASEAN countries and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended the Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand relations.
At the ASEAN 2025 Malaysia Summit, ASEAN leaders and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon all thanked and highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts, as the coordinating country for ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue in the period of 7.2024 - 7.2027, for actively coordinating and completing negotiations on important documents, upgrading ASEAN-New Zealand relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as a foundation for ASEAN-New Zealand relations and cooperation to develop more strongly in the future.
ASEAN and New Zealand leaders have adopted a Joint Vision Statement to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue, agreeing to upgrade the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, along with four pillars of cooperation on Peace, Prosperity, Humanity and the planet.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon affirmed that New Zealand is committed to contributing resources to implement the Action Plan for the 2026-2030 period, including 147 million USD in climate finance support, 27 million USD in environmental protection technology development support, and establishing an ASEAN - New Zealand Vision Fund with 25 million USD to implement initiatives on economic cooperation, climate change and the environment.
Speaking at the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the historical significance of establishing the ASEAN - New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations; assessed that this event reflects the maturity, attachment and depth of cooperation, contributing to enhancing the international role and position of ASEAN and New Zealand in the context of a volatile world. Vietnam is proud to work with other countries to build, foster relations and witness today's sweet fruits.
To concretize the new cooperation framework, the Prime Minister proposed three main cooperation focuses. First, maintain a peaceful and stable environment, cooperate for inclusive and sustainable development, jointly contribute to building an open, transparent, inclusive and rule-based regional structure, and continue to strongly support ASEAN's stance on the East Sea.
Second, promoting economic linkages, promoting new growth drivers on the basis of science, technology and innovation, effectively implementing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTAs that have just been upgraded, supporting ASEAN in negotiating and implementing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Third, strengthen human connectivity, taking people as the center, the subject, and the driving force of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
As a coordinating country, Vietnam has always been proactive, active, responsible for contributing and promoting negotiations on two important documents including the ASEAN - New Zealand Joint Vision Statement and the Action Plan for the 2026-2030 period, orienting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming period. These two important documents have received high support from countries, and have been approved by the ASEAN - New Zealand Summit.
