JAKARTA, 17 June 2022 – ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation under the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2021-2025) at the 10th ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee (ANZJCC) meeting held at the ASEAN Secretariat on 16 June.
Both sides reviewed the implementation of the Plan of Action, and noted the progress made within the first year of its implementation. The meeting looked forward to the resumption of activities previously halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including business and people-to-people exchanges, as well as New Zealand’s plans to reopen its border by the end of July 2022.
To further boost air connectivity and economic recovery in both regions, the meeting recognised the importance of concluding the negotiation of the regional Air Services Agreement between the Governments of ASEAN Member States and New Zealand. Towards this end, New Zealand took the opportunity to brief on its Peace, Prosperity, People, and Planet (4Ps) partnership programmes.
Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties, the meeting noted the importance of an open, inclusive, rules-based trading and investment arrangement and welcomed the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in January this year.
Furthermore, both sides looked forward to conclusion of negotiation to upgrade the Agreement to establish the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA). The meeting also discussed regional and international issues of common interest, highlighting the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms and ASEAN Centrality in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.
Moving forward, both sides noted the potential to further enhance ASEAN-New Zealand cooperation under the priority areas of the Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Other areas of priorities to further enhance cooperation include; digital economy, public health and zoonotic, people-to-people exchange, human capital development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), education, sustainable development, eco-tourism, renewable energy, climate change, culture, art and sports, disaster management, smart cities, connectivity, and narrowing development gap through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV.
Pengiran Hairani Pengiran Tajuddin, the Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to ASEAN, and Stuart Calman, Ambassador of New Zealand to ASEAN co-chaired the meeting. Permanent Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives, as well as officials from ASEAN Member States, New Zealand, and the ASEAN Secretariat were also present.
