On 9 April 2025, H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, participated in the 32^nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue in Da Nang, Viet Nam. The Meeting was co-chaired by New Zealand and Viet Nam, the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations. Timor-Leste also attended the Meeting as observer.

The Meeting discussed ways to further expand and deepen cooperation, particularly in light of the upcoming 50^th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in November 2025 in Malaysia.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary led the discussion on Inclusivity, Social Welfare and Rights, during which he called for closer cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand to ensure the rights of peoples in three priority areas. These include (1) the rights of all groups of people, particularly through empowerment of women and children, youth, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and vulnerable groups;   (2) the right to a clean and green region, wherein ASEAN and New Zealand could further strengthen cooperation on green technology, smart agriculture, sustainable land and forest management, and through existing relevant ASEAN centres, including the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), and activities such as Thailand’s upcoming ASEAN-New Zealand Roundtable on the Green Agenda; (3) the right to well-being, quality education and a decent livelihood, wherein ASEAN and New Zealand could work with the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI), and the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). In addition, he also encouraged New Zealand to continue with existing scholarship programmes, youth exchange and expand cooperation in vocational and STEM education. He encouraged continued support from New Zealand to the Mekong Sub-region.

Prior to the 32^nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue, on 8 April 2025, the Deputy Permanent Secretary participated in the Workshop on 50 Years of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations (1975-2025). As Thailand is incoming Country Coordinator, he stressed the importance of deeper, more substantive and strategic cooperation, given that ASEAN and New Zealand are set to celebrate 50  years of Dialogue Relations this year.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary also met with Mr. Grahame Morton, Deputy Secretary (Americas and Asia Group) and New Zealand SOM Leader for ASEAN, where they discussed bilateral cooperation, especially following up on the outcomes of recent exchanges of high-level visits.

New Zealand became a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1975, the grouping’s second such Partner after Australia.