Source: New Zealand Government
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling this week to Bangkok for talks with his Thai counterpart, and to Jakarta to attend the inauguration of Indonesia’s next President, Prabowo Subianto.
“New Zealand is committed to our Comprehensive Partnership with Indonesia, and our shared ties as democracies in the Indo-Pacific region,” Mr Peters says.
“It is important we show our strong support for the transition of power in the world’s third largest democracy.”
Mr Peters will also express New Zealand’s appreciation for Indonesia’s assistance in securing the recent release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was held hostage in Papua, Indonesia.
Before travelling to Indonesia, Mr Peters will visit Thailand to meet with his Foreign Minister counterpart to advance discussions on lifting the Thai-New Zealand bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026.
“Our engagement with Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will underline the importance we place on our partnership with Thailand,” Mr Peters says.
“The Coalition Government is seriously focused on boosting New Zealand’s engagement with Southeast Asia. Since taking office we have been backing up our words with action.
“Thailand will be the seventh member of ASEAN that we will have visited this year.”
While in Bangkok, Mr Peters will engage with key Thai political and business leaders and New Zealand alumni and meet with New Zealand businesses active in Thailand.
Mr Peters will return to New Zealand on 21 October.
