Hanoi (VNA) - TheASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting was held online within the framework of the 53rdASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-53) and relatedmeetings on September 10.

The two sides shared views on thepositive progress in ASEAN-New Zealand cooperation over the past 45 years sincetheir dialogue relationship, especially in five years from the formation of their strategicpartnership.

ASEAN foreign ministers spokehighly of New Zealand maintaining regular high-level visits and ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue as well as the country’s support and cooperation for ASEAN’speace and security. Both sides emphasised their commitment to furtherstrengthening partnership cooperation for full and effective implementation of theASEAN-New Zealand Action Plan 2016-2020 and the two key strategies of "Thepeople" and "Prosperity".

ASEAN continues working closelywith New Zealand as well as the international community in the overallpost-COVID-19 recovery plan, while getting ready for future public healthcrises.

ASEAN foreign ministers appreciated New Zealand's support for the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund. Theyalso welcome New Zealand for contributing 37 million NZD to the GlobalPartnership Project to enhance access to COVID -19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, and 7 million NZD to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI),thereby supporting fair and transparent distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Addressingthe event, Vietnamese Deputy ForeignMinister Nguyen Quoc Dung highly valued New Zealand'sefforts in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing his hope the country will share its experience and practicallessons in fighting the disease and supportASEAN in its post-pandemic recovery plan.

ASEAN's highest priority now is economic stability, Dung said, emphasising ASEAN and New Zealand need to strengthencooperation and upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement,towards the signing of the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).

Dungalso praised NewZealand for granting 6 million NZD to the initiativeon building capacity for the Mekong Research Institute and 5.5 million NZD to dam safety in Vietnam, thus improving disaster riskmanagement.

Regardinginternational and regional situation, Dung thanked New Zealand for supportingASEAN's efforts in maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation andaviation in the East Sea. ASEAN's principled stance isclear and consistent, Dung underlined, requesting the parties to enhance trust, refrain from the acts that further complicate the situation and from militarisation, and settledisputes in line with international law, including  the 1982 UNCLOS.

ASEANcommits to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiating for the early finalisation of an effective andpractical Code of Conduct in the East Sea./.