News:
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has had introductory phone calls recently with three Asian Foreign Ministers:
- With Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Minister Mahuta discussed the warm ties between Korea and New Zealand and explored avenues to cooperate on global and regional challenges. They discussed their countries’ responses to COVID-19 and the importance of equitable access to vaccines. The Ministers discussed climate change action, and green hydrogen as a promising avenue for collaboration between the two countries, which could play a useful role in helping achieve their shared goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. They also discussed New Zealand’s upcoming hosting of APEC. Minister Mahuta invited Minister Kang to visit New Zealand as soon as COVID-19 allowed.
- With Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Minister Mahuta discussed the importance of cooperation in the ASEAN region and strengthening relationships with the Pacific. Minister Mahuta noted the need to work together to support stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Ministers discussed the progress made on development and equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine, climate change as a pressing issue for the region, efforts to lift trade, and New Zealand’s APEC 2021 host year.
- With Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister Mahuta discussed the strategic cooperative partnership that the two countries share and wish to further strengthen. The Ministers discussed COVID-19, and New Zealand and Japan’s shared interest in achieving an inclusive economic recovery. Minister Mahuta and Minister Motegi discussed the Pacific Islands region, and the particular challenges it faces as a result of COVID-19, and confirmed the need for close cooperation among the region’s partners. The Ministers discussed regional issues, including maritime issues and the DPRK, as well as New Zealand’s hosting of APEC in 2021.