Judith Collins attends key forum for defence engagement.
Defence Minister Judith Collins will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos from 19-20 November. The meeting is a key forum for defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and aims to promote regional stability and security.
According to Ms Collins, "New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this meeting" due to the increasingly unstable geo-political situation. As part of her trip, she will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from Australia, China, Japan, and the United States among others. The meeting comprises Defence Ministers from ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.
Ms Collins' visit is expected to strengthen New Zealand's relationships with regional partners. Her itinerary includes in-person discussions on defence and security issues.