DPM Ahmad Zahid To Embark On Working Visit To New Zealand, Focusing On Bilateral Ties

From Ahmad Erwan Othman

AUCKLAND, July 13 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be on a five-day working visit to New Zealand starting tomorrow until July 18.

The Malaysian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mazita Marzuki said Ahmad Zahid's visit is part of the government's ongoing commitment to further strengthen bilateral diplomatic relations that have been established for 68 years with New Zealand.

The visit, she said, focuses on exploring opportunities for strategic cooperation covering various fields including defence, agriculture, education, halal industry as well as strategic cooperation.

“This visit is expected to further strengthen the long-standing Malaysia-New Zealand bilateral relations across various areas of cooperation.

“It also symbolises the continuation of the highest-level exchange of visits between the two countries, including the working visit by former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir on May 2 to 4 in 2023,” she said at a press conference here today.

Obviously, it includes the continuation of the working visit by former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, cum Foreign Minister of New Zealand to Malaysia on June 6-9 2024; as well as the official visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Malaysia on Sept 1-3 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister will also be accompanied by a delegation consisting of senior Malaysian government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Prime Minister’s Department.

Mazita said that among the main contents of Ahmad Zahid’s visit are meetings with New Zealand’s top leaders on July 16–17 in Wellington.

She said Ahmad Zahid is expected to meet New Zealand’s Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka as well as Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.

The visit will also include Ahmad Zahid's participation as chairman of the Halal Industry Development Council (MPIH) in a halal forum jointly organised by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) which will witness the signing of a cooperation document between Malaysia and New Zealand on higher education.

“In addition, it will also involve engagement sessions with New Zealand industry and business leaders including the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) and the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Corporation (NZTE),” she said.

Mazita also informed that Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), will be visiting National Crisis Management Centre and will hold a Roundtable Session with the Māori community in Rotorua.

In addition, she said the Deputy Prime Minister will also meet 250 members of the Malaysian community in New Zealand who are residents of the country.

“This visit is seen as very much in line with Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair for 2025. It provides an opportunity for the Malaysian Government to share initial achievements, directions and priorities under the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability” within the ASEAN regional framework.

“This visit thus reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations, promoting national interests and strengthening strategic cooperation between Malaysia and New Zealand,” she said.

The last time a Malaysian top leader visited New Zealand was the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was the Prime Minister at the time in March 2005.

-- BERNAMA