28th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue to begin
The 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-New Zealand Dialogue is set to take place virtually today.
ASEAN and New Zealand have a long history of collaboration and the regional association is Wellington’s second-largest collective trading partner. Today’s dialogue is set to build upon this collaboration by continuing the implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Strategic Partnership for 2021-2025. The partnership, adopted in August 2020, looks to engage Wellington in ensuring regional stability by cooperating in security through platforms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, upholding international law, preserving human rights and combating climate change.
Expect today’s dialogue to discuss the progress of the 2021-2025 partnership agreement thus far. Though the prior 2016-2020 partnership agreement was lauded by ASEAN for its successful implementation, the new deal is already being put to the test as the military coup in Myanmar and Chinese aggression on the South China Sea threaten to destabilise the region. Still, New Zealand remains in a strong position to rebuff Chinese ambivalence over Myanmar and Beijing’s coercion, making it a valuable asset to ASEAN. Although Beijing is Wellington’s largest export market, demand for New Zealand’s beef exports has continued to rise throughout China, granting Wellington leverage in the bilateral trade relationship.
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