Winston Peters to Visit Viet Nam, Thailand, and China to Deepen Key Partnerships

Mr Peters’ itinerary begins in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, followed by Bangkok, Thailand — two pivotal diplomatic and economic partners for New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Rail, Winston Peters, will depart on a multi-nation diplomatic visit next week, reaffirming New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening ties with vital partners in Southeast Asia and China. The visit, scheduled from Tuesday 25 November to Saturday 29 November, includes official stops in Viet Nam, Thailand, and China, and reflects the Coalition Government’s ongoing foreign policy focus on the Indo-Pacific region.

“Southeast Asia has been a strong focus for New Zealand’s foreign policy over the past two years, as the Coalition Government has worked hard to ensure that our key relationships in the region reach their potential,” Mr Peters said in a statement.

Strengthening Regional Ties in Viet Nam and Thailand

Mr Peters’ itinerary begins in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, followed by Bangkok, Thailand — two pivotal diplomatic and economic partners for New Zealand. During the visit, Peters is expected to hold high-level talks with senior political leaders in both capitals. The meetings will center on:

• Regional geopolitical stability and shared security concerns

• Trade and investment opportunities

• Climate resilience and sustainability partnerships

• People-to-people ties and educational exchanges

• Collaboration in agriculture, infrastructure, and digital economies

“Southeast Asia contributes significantly to New Zealanders’ prosperity and security, and we are doing all we can to maximise our mutually beneficial connections,” Peters said. “We are pleased to be returning to Ha Noi and Bangkok next week.”

The trip comes at a time of heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, making such visits essential for maintaining New Zealand’s influence, ensuring regional stability, and fostering constructive bilateral and multilateral relationships.

Strategic Engagement with China: Trade and Transport in Focus

Following his engagements in Southeast Asia, Mr Peters will travel to Guangzhou, China, where he will represent New Zealand at an event marking the procurement of two new interisland ferries. The vessels are being constructed by Guangzhou Shipyard International, a leading Chinese shipbuilder.

This procurement signals a significant step in New Zealand’s long-term transport infrastructure modernisation and underscores the practical dimensions of its bilateral trade relationship with China.

“This procurement of interisland ferries from Guangzhou Shipyard International builds upon our long-standing trade and economic relationship with China, which is one of New Zealand’s most important and valuable,” said Peters.

The trip marks Mr Peters’ seventh official visit to China and is the eighth New Zealand Ministerial visit to China in 2025, highlighting an active phase in New Zealand-China diplomatic engagement.

“The Coalition Government is committed to maintaining and building our strong, mature and mutually respectful relationship with China,” Peters added. “We have been pleased with the number and quality of high-level visits between China and New Zealand over the past two years.”

China remains New Zealand’s largest trading partner, and Minister Peters’ visit is expected to reinforce bilateral collaboration across trade, climate policy, regional development, and transport innovation.

Broader Foreign Policy Context

Mr Peters’ diplomatic outreach aligns with the Coalition Government’s broader foreign policy strategy, which emphasizes:

• A stable and rules-based Indo-Pacific region

• Balanced engagement with both Western and Asian powers

• Continued focus on economic resilience, infrastructure development, and supply chain diversification

The tour also reflects the Government's desire to maintain multi-vector diplomacy, where engagement with major powers like China is balanced with strong ties to ASEAN countries and other regional allies.

As the Minister for both Foreign Affairs and Rail, Peters’ dual roles place him at the crossroads of both international diplomacy and New Zealand’s strategic domestic infrastructure planning.

Looking Ahead

The outcomes of this visit are expected to further deepen economic and strategic cooperation, provide momentum for post-pandemic recovery efforts, and showcase New Zealand’s commitment to being a constructive partner in the region.

Minister Peters is set to return to New Zealand on Saturday, 29 November, with follow-up policy announcements anticipated in the weeks that follow.