Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and his New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta discussed the importance of regular consultations between the two countries to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all feasible areas, while expressing disappointment with the developing situation in Myanmar.

Sokhonn held bilateral talks with Mahuta on August 4 on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings hosted by Cambodia.

“The two ministers had a discussion on the enhancement of the bilateral relations, during which [Sokhonn] appreciated the 2nd bilateral consultations between the two foreign ministries last February and underlined that regular consultations are vital and would further afford ways to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all feasible areas,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation in multilateral frameworks and also exchanged views and discussed some other regional and international issues of common concern and interest, among them climate change and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On Myanmar, the statement said: “The ministers expressed their disappointment with the recent execution of four opposition activists. [Mahuta] underlined New Zealand's support for the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and the endeavours of the ASEAN chair and the ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar in pushing for its implementation.”