Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Minister of Defence of New Zealand, The Hon. Judith Collins KC, on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), 12th ADMM-Plus and Related Meetings, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Both sides recalled their meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, during Dr. Kao’s Working Visit to New Zealand in May 2025 and discussed what more could be done in the 50th anniversary of the Dialogue Relations between ASEAN and New Zealand, particularly with the focus on potential contributions in the defence cooperation. Dr. Kao also congratulated the Minister on the occasion of the establishment of ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the recently-concluded ASEAN – New Zealand Commemorative Summit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 28 October 2025.