Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has arrived in Malaysia along with other world leaders for the start of the East Asia Summit amid tight security.
Thousands of police officers have been brought into Kuala Lumpar and a lockdown is in force in the central city with only official vehicles allowed to travel in the area.
On arriving Luxon’s motorcade passed one of the numerous pro-Palestine protests that were being held in the city.
US President Donald Trump was attending the ASEAN meeting this year, primarily to observe the signing of a further peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia after cross-border military skirmishes between the countries left around two dozen people dead earlier this year.
Trump said it was “a momentous day for South East Asia,” the BBC reports.
“A monumental step,” he said.
Leaders in the region hope that the peace ceremony, and Trump’s presence, could cement and strengthen a ceasefire signed back in July.
Trump’s tariffs weigh heavily over regional summits
The trade tariffs Trump has imposed on nations across the world will also feature prominently at the East Asia Summit and at the APEC Summit later this week in Korea.
On Thursday at APEC, Trump was due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping where the two leaders were expected to discuss their trade war.
Meanwhile, Trump continued to hike tariffs on countries which displease him.
At the weekend he lifted tariffs on Canada by an extra 10% after being angered at an anti-tariffs advertisement being run in the country.
Luxon’s goal at the two summits was to strengthen New Zealand’s ties and unlock new trade opportunities in the region with hundreds of millions of consumers.
He would also look to achieve that by signing up to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN nations this week.
An upgrade from our current Strategic Partnership – the agreement could forge closer co-operation, smoother trade boost development aid and result in many more academic scholarships.
While at the East Asia Summit Luxon’s secured bilateral meetings with the leaders of Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Timor Leste with more still to be confirmed.
The Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, was established in 1967 with an aim of strengthening co-operation among member states while advancing the region’s interests in trade and diplomacy.
