New Zealand-Asean bond stronger

It is also the 40th anniversary of New Zealand’s relationship with Asean, which tomorrow will be celebrated by our leaders at the Asean-New Zealand Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur. In 1975 New Zealand became one of Asean’s first dialogue partners, though our links with Thailand, Cambodia and Laos were established as early as 1951 through the Colombo Plan. 

From an early emphasis on regional security, education and development cooperation, we have enhanced Asean links to include trade, investment, tourism, education and disaster management. 

In 1994 the New Zealand government and Khon Kaen University established the Mekong Institute, which has gone on to equip more than 4,000 officials from the Greater Mekong Region with the knowledge necessary to deal with the challenges and opportunities of moving toward more open economies and greater regional integration. Asean already accounts for 10 per cent of New Zealand’s exports in goods and 5 per cent in services. This trading relationship has a solid foundation in the form of the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. 

In July 2013 Prime Minister John Key launched the NZ Inc Asean Strategy, the New Zealand government’s first regional strategy, to forge better links with every member of Asean and with the regional community as a whole. The strategy is supported by a soon-to-be-announced Asean-New Zealand Plan of Action for 2016-2020, which will see New Zealand increase investments in areas where Asean values New Zealand’s expertise and where New Zealand can have a practical impact, particularly in education, agricultural development and trade. 

I am confident that Thailand, Cambodia and Laos will remain at the heart of the New Zealand-Asean relationship for another 40 years and beyond.

Reuben Levermore

New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos