KLCC, Malaysia
22 November 2015

On the second day of the 27th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Benigno S. Aquino III and his fellow leaders met with Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand during the ASEAN-New Zealand 40th Anniversary Commemorative Summit.

During the Summit, Prime Minister Key announced that his country’s formal relationship with ASEAN would be upgraded from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership. Thus, his country will be investing more than $200 million in the region over the next three years to boost trade and investment links.

This cooperation will focus on two key strategies, People Strategy and Prosperity Strategy.

The People Strategy will build opportunities for training and exchanges, and greater flows of people in both directions, with a focus on youth, especially current and future leaders.

The Prosperity Strategy will support ASEAN and New Zealand’s economic engagement, achieve common regional integration objectives, and support ASEAN’s drive to close the development gap with a focus on New Zealand’s expertise in agriculture and trade.

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