Alison Mann, New Zealand's Senior Official for APEC, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and SEAN.(Photo: New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)Jakarta (VNA) - New Zealand highly evaluated Vietnam’s role as Chair of ASEAN 2020, especially amid the challenging and unusual circumstances, said Alison Mann, New Zealand's Senior Official for APEC, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and SEAN.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency's correspondent in Jakarta, Mannsaid New Zealand adheres commitment to the international rules-basedorder and multilateral institutions to deal with transbourndary challenges,said Mann, who leads the Asia Pacific Regional Integration Division under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.
Vietnam’s priority of advancing a “Cohesive and Responsive” ASEAN is mostappropriate given the current challenges posed by COVID-19 in particular, shestressed, adding that New Zealand looks forward to continuing its closecooperation with ASEAN to advance the region’s recovery from the pandemic, andto support long-term peace, prosperity and stability.
The central challenge ASEAN and New Zealand are all facing at this time is howto navigate through the COVID-19 crisis and build a more resilient region, onethat is better able to withstand future shocks, she noted.
The official went on to say that New Zealand has been active in the region onrestoring supply chains and keeping markets open to trade, and the country has encouragedits partners to resist calls for protectionism, which may seem sensible in theface of the economic challenge in many regional countries, but which historyhas demonstrated undermines growth and prosperity.
According to Mann, New Zealandviews the East Asia Summit (EAS) as the preeminent regional political-security dialoguein the Indo-Pacific, and the country welcomes the opportunity it provides todiscuss the most pressing strategic issues facing our region, from politicaland security matters, to economic and trade ones, through to issues of climatechange and environmental security.
At the ASEAN-New ZealandMinisterial Meeting within the framework of the 53rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting(AMM 53) and related meetings, New Zealand emphasised the need for fair and equitable access tovaccines, to maintaining supply chains and restoring connectivity, and workingtogether to advance regional economic recovery, she said.
NewZealand finds the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) provides it with opportunities forpractical cooperation on security challenges across the Indo-Pacific,especially those that require transboundary action if they are to findsolutions.
For New Zealand, priorities include counter-terrorism and fighting trans-nationalcrime, cyber security, preventive diplomacy, maritime security and a host ofother issues that threaten to undermine peace and stiblity across theIndo-Pacific, she stated.
The official said New Zealand’s long-standing support for ASEAN centralitystems from its belief that these ASEAN-centric meetings and forums play animportant role in building confidence and trust, promoting understanding, andfostering practical cooperation, contributing to building and maintaining the conditions for peaceand prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
As always, for New Zealand, the country’s engagement with ASEAN is builton a foundation of reliability and honesty as a close friend, respect forASEAN’s sovereignty and independence, and a desire to deepen two-waycooperation, she said.
For New Zealand, priorities include counter-terrorism and fighting trans-nationalcrime, cyber security, preventive diplomacy, maritime security and a host ofother issues that threaten to undermine peace and stiblity across theIndo-Pacific, she stated.
The official said New Zealand’s long-standing support for ASEAN centralitystems from its belief that these ASEAN-centric meetings and forums play animportant role in building confidence and trust, promoting understanding, andfostering practical cooperation, contributing to building and maintaining the conditions for peaceand prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
As always, for New Zealand, the country’s engagement with ASEAN is builton a foundation of reliability and honesty as a close friend, respect forASEAN’s sovereignty and independence, and a desire to deepen two-waycooperation, she said.
New Zealandand ASEAN’s strong relationship is reflected by many linkages, she added.
The most recent data shows that more than 10 percent of New Zealandresidents born overseas came from ASEAN member states. Last year, 7,555international tertiary students in New Zealand came from across ASEAN, thelatest in a long line of students going back many decades.
Thetrade and economic relationship between the two sides has been flourishing aswell. In 2019, two-way trade between New Zealand and ASEAN was justunder 20 billion NZD. New Zealand is providing 225 million NZD toASEAN through its Overseas Development Assistance programmes in 2020-2023.
Laterthis year, when the two sides celebrate their 45th anniversary of partnership,New Zealand expects to announce new programmes that build on our traditionalareas of focus but also expand into newer areas such as climate change andsustainabilility, she added./.
VNA
