Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Manila next week to further strengthen the NZ-Philippines relationship and participate in a series of regional meetings.

“Lifting New Zealand’s relationships in South East Asia has been a core part of the Government’s Foreign Policy Reset, and we are pleased to continue that important work next week,” Mr Peters says.

“This year we are celebrating the 60thanniversary of diplomatic relations with the Philippines and our partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is also going from strength to strength.”

ASEAN represents a region of around 700 million people, is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner by value, a major source of fuel imports, and an increasingly important partner for trade, security and regional stability.

“The past year has underscored how international events can impact New Zealand’s own security and prosperity and reinforced the importance of close partners like ASEAN. By investing in these relationships, we can better navigate a more complex and uncertain world, while strengthening New Zealand’s resilience and prosperity.”

While in Manila, Mr Peters will:

Mr Peters departs New Zealand on 20 July and returns on 24 July