JAKARTA, 7 April 2022 – ASEAN and New Zealand Senior Officials expressed their commitment to enhance cooperation following plans by ASEAN Member States to reopen their respective borders. This commitment was made as part of the efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that made significant impact to the socio-economic situation in ASEAN and New Zealand.
The Senior Officials from ASEAN and New Zealand also noted New Zealand’s active role in ASEAN-led mechanisms and support for ASEAN Centrality in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region.
Both sides underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation through the effective implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2021-2025), in several areas such as counter terrorism and violent extremism; trade, investment, and digital economy; Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); people-to-people initiatives; disaster management; biodiversity; agriculture and smart agriculture; waste management; addressing climate change; health; connectivity; cybersecurity; education; and support for the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.
The meeting welcomed the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in January this year and looked forward to the implementation of the Agreement, which would enhance market access, employment opportunities for businesses as well as movement of people and products in the region.
Additionally, the meeting looked forward to the conclusion on the negotiations to upgrade the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and negotiations for a Regional Air Services Agreement between the Governments of the ASEAN Member States and New Zealand.
Following the gradual reopening of New Zealand’s border, ASEAN looked forward to the resumption of people-to-people contacts initiatives such as the Young Business Leaders Initiative, Prime Minister’s Fellowship Scheme and Young Diplomat Study Tour. Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.
Emaleen Abd Rahman Teo, Permanent Secretary and SOM Leader of Brunei Darussalam, and Mark Sinclair, New Zealand Deputy Secretary and SOM Leader, co-chaired the dialogue. ASEAN SOM Leaders, their representatives, and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community were also in attendance.
