An anniversary worth celebrating

NEW ZEALAND

- JONATHAN KINGS

This year marks a significant milestone for New Zealand's relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) — 50 years of formal dialogue relations. This anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to this important partnership and a strong future together.

New Zealand and Asean formalised ties in 1975. Since then, the relationship has gone from strength to strength. Asean is consequential to New Zealand's economic and security interests. The breadth of our friendship is consequential for the people-to-people connections we have formed together across sectors like education, tourism, culture and sports.

Asean came together as an organisation in 1967. It began as a five-nation grouping and has since expanded to include five new members. Its growth over the past six decades has been impressive. New Zealand is proud of this relationship and the connections we have formed.

We have established strong formal frameworks that support our trade relationship on the one hand and regular dialogue on regional security on the other. We work closely together through a range of bilateral and multilateral agreements.