President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
June 11, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received Right Honorable Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, in a courtesy call at the Malacañan Palace.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the visit of Minister Peters in the country underscores the longstanding and robust diplomatic ties between the Philippines and New Zealand, and aims to further enhance cooperation and collaboration across various fields.

He previously met with his counterpart, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, where they discussed opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations, exploring opportunities to deepen existing cooperation on defense, economy, renewable energy and people-to-people linkages, among others. They likewise tackled regional developments of mutual concern.

The New Zealand official’s trip to the country followed the Official Visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last April, where he and President Marcos Jr. agreed to elevate Philippines-New Zealand relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026. This is also a significant opportunity as both nations anticipate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in July 2026, reaffirming their commitment to work closely together in advancing mutual interests and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

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