KUALA LUMPUR – Asean and New Zealand need to chart a course towards the early recovery of an economy battered by Covid-19.
In his intervention speech during the Asean-New Zealand Commemorative Summit today, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the initiative is important as countries around the globe continue to battle the pandemic after nearly a year.
He said the move can be executed by harnessing potential opportunities, guarding against protectionism, boosting resilience, and maintaining open markets.
“Asean and New Zealand must step up cooperation to preserve global supply chain connectivity.
“While Asean and New Zealand will continue to work together in existing traditional strategic areas, moving forward in the post-pandemic era, a more comprehensive collaboration and coordinated approach is needed.”
He called on Asean members and New Zealand to intensify cooperation in pressing issues that have had an impact on people's lives, such as the environment and climate change.
“Given stronger political will and determination, I am confident that we can ensure meaningful changes in our way of life towards addressing global climate change.” – Bernama, November 14, 2020
