- The Thirty-First ASEAN Economic Ministers-Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation was held on 21 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Ma. Cristina A. Roque, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines; the Honourable Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia; and the Honourable Dr. Shane Reti, MP, Member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, New Zealand Parliament.
- The Meeting noted the economies of ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand are highly complementary. The total two-way trade between ASEAN and Australia reached USD 136.6 billion in 2025, based on Australia’s data. Two-way trade between ASEAN and New Zealand stood at USD 17.3 billion in 2025, based on New Zealand’s data. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from Australia to ASEAN were recorded at USD 1.4 billion, while FDI inflows from New Zealand to ASEAN amounted to USD 119,2 million in the same year, based on ASEAN’s preliminary statistics.
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