Christopher Luxon is heading to Malaysia and South Korea next week, continuing a busy period of overseas engagements for the Prime Minister.
He will fly commercially – as opposed to on a Defence Force 757 – and will be accompanied by a senior business delegation.
Luxon made a quick visit to Australia the week before last, and tomorrow is heading to Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Week.
Luxon said Malaysia and the Republic of Korea were “strong partners for New Zealand on the world stage” and “crucial” to New Zealand’s prosperity and security.
“I look forward to meeting with my counterparts and working with them to explore what more can be done to further deepen our relationships.
“My first official visit to Malaysia demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to building on our relationship with one of our longstanding friends in South East Asia and expanding our cooperation into new areas.”
Luxon said he was looking forward to “reconnecting” with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and “opening the door to more opportunities for New Zealand businesses”.
“Malaysia and New Zealand are well-established defence partners, and we work together on regional security challenges including transnational crime.”
Malaysia was New Zealand’s ninth-largest two-way trading partner and the visit presented opportunities to expand trade and investment ties, Luxon said.
It would also “support the strong connections between our people, through education and tourism”.
Luxon will visit Malaysia first, followed by South Korea.
He said South Korea was a “like-minded democracy” that saw the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region in “similar ways to New Zealand”.
“I look forward to continuing my discussions with President Yoon Suk Yeol on regional and global challenges, as well as bilateral cooperation.
“Korea is our sixth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest education source market. We have strong food and beverage exports, and this visit will help lift the profile of our world-class offering.
“Our strong defence and security ties stem from the Korean War and continue today as New Zealand steps up to play its part to secure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”
Along with the business delegation, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Nicola Grigg, the Minister of State for Trade, and Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee.
The trip will follow Luxon’s visit to Tonga, departing tomorrow, to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Week. Winston Peters is currently in the Kingdom and will leave tomorrow.
On August 15 and 16 Luxon travelled to Australia, visiting Sydney – where he met with members of the New South Wales Government – and Canberra, where he met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.
Luxon also travelled commercially to Australia, but is set to head to Tonga on a Defence Force 757.
