(AseanAll)  —  The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Sugiono, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Winston Peters, co-chaired the 12th Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) Indonesia–New Zealand meeting held at the Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia on June 13,2025.

The 12th JMC meeting focused on evaluating the first year of implementing the 2025–2029 Action Plan agreed upon at the 11th JMC in Auckland, as well as discussing future cooperation programs. Both Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive partnership within the framework of the action plan. "This step is important to strengthen bilateral relations and achieve the goals outlined in the 2025–2029 Action Plan," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Indonesia-New Zealand cooperation encompasses various fields, including the economy, trade, investment, and education. In the economic sector, both Foreign Ministers agreed to promote more balanced and sustainable trade to achieve a bilateral trade target of NZD 6 billion by 2029. One concrete effort is to streamline import policies and enhance collaboration in the food and agriculture sector.

"I would also like to express my appreciation for the support of the New Zealand Government towards the Free Nutritious Meal program initiated by President Prabowo," added Sugiono.

The two Foreign Ministers also discussed cooperation between societies. Specifically, Foreign Minister Sugiono appreciated the increase in the quota for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP) for Indonesia. "I hope that the signing of this Arrangement on Education Cooperation can further support the development of Indonesia's human resources, especially the younger generation," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.

Cooperation in the field of sports is also in the spotlight, including through the development of athletes' capacities. "Rugby is one of New Zealand's sports icons, and I believe sports like rugby can be a strong bridge of friendship among our younger generations," said Sugiono.

In addition to signing a cooperation agreement in the field of education, Indonesia and New Zealand have also agreed on a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for halal standards, which will strengthen halal industry cooperation and meet consumer needs in both countries.

Sugiono and Peters also emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration in the Pacific, including through regional forums such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). "As countries that share geographical proximity to the Pacific region, we have a joint responsibility to maintain the stability, prosperity, and resilience of the region," emphasized Foreign Minister Sugiono.

"Indonesia and New Zealand are close neighbors, and therefore, I want to reaffirm our joint commitment to building a more resilient and peaceful future for the region and the world," concluded Sugiono.

The RI-New Zealand JMC is a Foreign Ministers' level forum that serves as an important platform to review the progress of bilateral cooperation and to encourage closer collaboration at the regional and global levels.