WELLINGTON, Apr 18 (NNN-RNZ) – New Zealand and Thailand will upgrade their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership by 2026, the prime ministers of the two countries said, yesterday.
“New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build on our long-standing and warm relationship,” Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, said, after meeting with his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, in Bangkok.
The elevating of the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership is also to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, a New Zealand government statement cited Luxon as saying.
The prime ministers discussed opportunities to strengthen relationship across defence and security, education, and people-to-people links, the statement said.
Economic cooperation was another key focus of the meeting, including setting a shared goal to triple two-way trade by 2045, it said, adding that, Thailand is a consistent top 10 two-way trade partner for New Zealand.– NNN-RNZ
