The event was organized by the New Zealand mission to ASEAN in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and Vietnam's permanent mission to ASEAN. Vietnam is the coordinator for the ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations from 2024-2027.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Vietnam's permanent representative to ASEAN, stressed that New Zealand is one of the bloc's long-standing and trusted partners.
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Delegates at the ceremony pose for a group photo. |
Since the establishment of the dialogue relations in 1975, the ASEAN-New Zealand relationship has continuously been strengthened across fields, reflecting their shared interests and responsibilities in contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, she noted.
She affirmed that, as the coordinator of the ASEAN-New Zealand relations, Vietnam is committed to closely collaborating with other ASEAN members and New Zealand to achieve substantive outcomes during this milestone year, contributing to building the grouping and lifting the ASEAN-New Zealand relations to a new level, towards establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and New Zealand by the end of this year.
In his remarks, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the 50-year journey of the ASEAN -New Zealand partnership, saying the it has achieved significant outcomes spanning the entire scope of regional cooperation.
The commemorative logo symbolizes the strength and resilience in the ASEAN-New Zealand partnership, as well as the steadfast growth in connectivity between the two sides through trade and business relations, digital networks, people-to-people connections, and the commitment to further advancing the relationship, he stated.
Ambassador of New Zealand to ASEAN Stuart Calman affirmed that cooperation with ASEAN has brought significant benefits to both sides, and the bloc remains a top priority of New Zealand. He noted that this relationship is progressing steadily towards a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Source: VNA