Ministry Statements & Speeches:
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro and met today to mark the 60th anniversary of Philippines-New Zealand diplomatic relations and to announce the formal elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
This elevation builds upon six decades of friendship, grounded in strong people-to-people links and driven by our commitment to invest in the relationship in ways that deliver real benefits and advances shared interests, reflecting the ambition that Leaders set for our Comprehensive Partnership when they met in 2024.
The Comprehensive Partnership commits New Zealand and the Philippines to expand and enrich our relationship in new areas of cooperation. It signals an elevated level of cooperation in the face of milestone achievements in the past two years leading up to the 60th anniversary spanning political engagement, defense, security and maritime cooperation, trade and economic engagement, and people-to-people cooperation. The Ministers tasked officials to develop a Plan of Action for the succeeding years to fully harness the benefits of a forward-looking Comprehensive Partnership.
Minister Peters and Secretary Lazaro noted the key accomplishments detailed in the Roadmap to Comprehensive Partnership, the guiding framework that effectively steered the direction of bilateral engagements over the last two years.
On defense and security, Ministers welcomed the growth in military-to-military cooperation, joint exercises, training, and the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, signed in April 2025 by Defense Ministers.
On trade and economic relations, Ministers highlighted the substantial potential in the trade and economic relationship, reflected in the goal set by Leaders to increase two-way trade by 50 percent by 2030, and noted we are making good progress. Ministers welcomed the establishment of the Joint Economic Commission and inaugural meeting, which will take place in August, to progress this goal. The Ministers also welcomed the launch of preparatory discussions with the Philippines on accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
On political cooperation, Ministers welcomed the elevation of the biennial foreign ministry consultations (FMC) to vice-ministerial level and the inaugural maritime dialogue, held in 2025. They looked forward to sustaining reciprocal high-level visits.
On people-to-people ties, the Ministers recognized the contribution of the Filipino community in New Zealand, now the eighth largest ethnic community in the country. They committed to strengthening people-to-people links, including through human resource cooperation, cultural exchanges and air connectivity.
The Ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Education, facilitating cooperation between higher education and technical education institutions. They also welcomed the renewal of the Geothermal Energy Cooperation Arrangement. Both are long-standing features of the bilateral relationship. The Ministers also welcomed the recent signing of an Arrangement on the Mutual Recognition of Seafarers.
The Ministers recognized New Zealand’s bilateral development contributions to the Philippines, which focus on climate and economic resilience; knowledge and skills; and peace, security and preventing violent extremism. They also acknowledged New Zealand’s increased support for ASEAN Member States, including through access to new regional initiatives, funding to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and an increase in tertiary scholarships under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme.
In support of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, the Ministers reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in the ASEAN context, and the need to uphold ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific. The Ministers also encouraged partnership between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and committed to grow this relationship in the years to come. They expressed a shared resolve to work in close partnership to address global and regional challenges.
The Ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, and the need to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea. They reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Ministers reiterated that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. They also reflected on the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award this year.
The Ministers declared the Comprehensive Partnership as a new chapter in the New Zealand- Philippines relations: one that is reliable, built on trust and a shared commitment to the rules-based order governed by international law, and focused on delivering tangible benefits for both nations, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world.