On Monday 12 October 2015, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a reception to commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among invitees were representatives from various Thai agencies, private sector and media. Also invited as special guests are Miss Rachel Millns, Miss Universe New Zealand 2014, Miss Chalita Yamwannang, Miss Universe Thailand 2013, Ms. Worarat Niyomdej, 1^st Runner-up of Miss Thailand 2010, the Ambassador of Malaysia to Thailand as Chairman of ASEAN, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Thailand as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations and the Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand. The reception was followed by a luncheon hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the 40^th Anniversary of the ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations at Sattabongkot Room.

The event was held to celebrate the longstanding dialogue partnership between ASEAN and New Zealand and to foster mutual understandings and closer ties between the peoples of ASEAN and New Zealand as well as to raise the profile of ASEAN and New Zealand among the general public.

New Zealand is the second oldest ASEAN Dialogue Partner, dating from 1975. The relations have evolved from donor-recipient to the comprehensive partnership and have brought about fruitful outcomes beneficial to the peoples of the regions and helped narrow the development gaps within the region. People-to-people connectivity is a solid foundation for ASEAN and New Zealand relations in the years to come.

Under this auspice, Leaders of ASEAN and New Zealand will meet in November 2015 in the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit and it is expected that    an announcement to elevate the relations into a Strategic Partnership will be made.